A brief altercation involving former National Football League quarterback Cam Newton and Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University’s mascot interrupted ESPN’s live First Take broadcast Friday, Oct. 24, during Magic City Classic weekend at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
The incident occurred near the conclusion of a friendly mascot race between Alabama State University’s Stinger and Alabama A&M University’s Butch Henry. Newton, who was on the field celebrating after Stinger crossed the finish line first, appeared to exchange words with the Alabama A&M University mascot after contact was made and his hat fell to the ground, according to ABC 33/40 News.
Event staff and security quickly stepped between Newton and the mascot. The exchange lasted only a few seconds but was captured on live television and widely shared across social-media platforms within minutes, Awful Announcing reported.
Clips of the altercation quickly spread on TikTok and Instagram, drawing millions of views and sparking online debates about professionalism and accountability. Many viewers described the exchange as poor sportsmanship, particularly given that the Classic celebrates student excellence and school pride.
“This was supposed to be about historically Black colleges and universities showing the world our excellence,” said Chelsye Nichols, a junior psychology major at Alabama State University, who witnessed the incident. “These are college students representing their universities with pride. They deserve better examples from the adults on the field.”
This was not the first time Newton had appeared in a public confrontation. In February 2024, Newton was involved in a brief altercation during a youth 7-on-7 football tournament in Atlanta. The Associated Press reported that the incident took place Feb. 25, 2024, at B.E.S.T. Academy and showed Newton being pushed and surrounded by several men before others broke up the dispute. According to Atlanta News First, the Atlanta Police Department confirmed that no injuries were reported and that Newton declined to press charges.
Following the Atlanta incident, Newton publicly apologized, telling the Associated Press that he “let my emotions get the best of me” and that he should not have put himself in that position. Newton also said the situation “could have gotten ugly,” adding that as a leader and mentor, he must set a better example.
The incident at the Magic City Classic marked the second time in over a year that Newton had been recorded in a physical exchange. While neither situation resulted in criminal charges, both have drawn public attention and discussion about composure and conduct in high-profile settings.
The altercation occurred as First Take highlighted the 84-year-old rivalry between Alabama State University and Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University. The broadcast was part of ESPN’s ongoing effort to feature historically Black colleges and universities on national television.
Despite the disruption, the broadcast continued, and both universities went on to participate in a weekend of events celebrating the Magic City Classic tradition.
