A football player from the University of Alabama at Birmingham allegedly stabbed two teammates on Saturday morning prior to the team’s scheduled game against the University of South Florida, as reported by the university. Interim head coach Alex Mortensen confirmed that the injured players were in stable condition during the post-game press conference. Despite the incident, the team chose to proceed with the game to pay tribute to graduating seniors in the final home game of the season. Some players decided not to participate in the game following the episode.
The university disclosed that the suspected teammate involved in the stabbing was taken into custody, although the names of the individuals were not released. Daniel Mincey, an offensive lineman who joined the university in May, was arrested in the afternoon on charges of aggravated assault and attempted murder, according to records from the Jefferson County Jail. Mincey, who was the only UAB player arrested that day, remained in custody in Birmingham. There was no immediate information available regarding his legal representation, and attempts to contact his family for comments were unsuccessful.
While UAB officials did not officially confirm Mincey’s involvement, the team’s online roster identifies him as a redshirt freshman from Pompano Beach, Florida, standing at six feet four inches, and formerly associated with the University of Kentucky. Coach Mortensen mentioned that the team, after deciding to proceed with the game, concentrated on their usual pre-game routines. Additionally, counseling services were being offered to players seeking support.
Coach Mortensen refrained from disclosing further specifics about the incident due to the ongoing investigation, which took place at the Football Operations Building on campus. The outcome of the game saw the Blazers losing 48-18 to South Florida, bringing their season record to 3-8 overall and 1-6 in the American Conference.