Football Player STABS Teammates – Violent Attack

Person in handcuffs with colorful lights in background.

When a college football game kicks off just hours after a teammate is stabbed in the locker room, the question isn’t only why the game went on—it’s what that decision reveals about the values at the heart of collegiate sports.

Story Snapshot

UAB player Daniel Mincey was arrested for allegedly stabbing two teammates hours before a scheduled game.
Despite the violent incident, interim head coach Alex Mortensen chose to play the game, citing senior day traditions and player requests.
Both injured players were reported in stable condition; Mincey faces serious criminal charges.
The decision to proceed highlights deep tensions between institutional priorities, player safety, and athletic tradition.

The Morning That Shattered UAB Football

On November 22, 2025, University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Football Operations Center became the scene of a crisis that would challenge every convention in college athletics. Redshirt freshman and recent University of Kentucky transfer Daniel Israel Mincey allegedly stabbed two teammates early that morning, throwing the UAB program into chaos just hours before kickoff against South Florida. Police responded swiftly, arresting Mincey around noon and booking him on charges of aggravated assault and attempted murder. The victims, unnamed by the university, were stabilized and treated, but the reverberations across the team and university were immediate.

With the football operations building itself as the crime scene, UAB administrators faced an urgent decision: call off the game or press on. In the world of college football—where tradition, senior day honors, and competitive pressure collide—there are no easy answers, especially for a struggling program already reeling from a turbulent season.

Leadership in Crisis: How UAB Chose to Play

Interim head coach Alex Mortensen, thrust into leadership after the midseason firing of Trent Dilfer, found himself at the center of the storm. With only hours to respond, Mortensen convened with team leaders and senior players. Several seniors reportedly insisted on playing, unwilling to forfeit their final home game. Mortensen’s postgame remarks emphasized player agency, counseling support, and the gravity of the moment. “The seniors wanted this opportunity,” he explained, acknowledging that some players understandably chose to sit out while counseling resources were made available for all.

The decision to play, particularly on senior day, highlights the powerful pull of tradition in American college football. For seniors, the last home game is a capstone—a moment they and their families have anticipated for years. Yet this tradition collided headlong with the reality of violence within the team, raising urgent questions about player safety, institutional responsibility, and crisis management. The administration, caught between honoring commitments and protecting students, ultimately backed Mortensen’s decision. The rationale: to respect the wishes of those seniors while offering support for those too shaken to take the field.

Aftermath and Fallout: A Program Under the Microscope

The game itself unfolded as a rout, with UAB falling to South Florida 48-18. For a program with a 3-7 record and only one conference win, the result was less shocking than the circumstances. The loss, however, became secondary to the trauma left in the wake of the stabbing. Players and staff faced the immediate psychological toll of violence among teammates—a rare and deeply unsettling breach of trust at the heart of any team sport.

Media scrutiny intensified as details emerged. The university, citing privacy and ongoing investigation, released limited information about the victims and declined to confirm Mincey’s direct involvement, even as jail records and news outlets identified him. The broader campus community grappled with questions of safety and institutional priorities, while families of those involved faced a long road to recovery. For the UAB administration, the incident exposed the difficulty of balancing athletic obligations, legal liability, and the well-being of students in moments of crisis.

Ripple Effects: A Turning Point for College Athletics?

The implications of UAB’s decision will reverberate well beyond this season. Recruiting may suffer as prospective players and parents scrutinize the program’s approach to safety and crisis response. Donor contributions and ticket sales could dip if confidence in the university’s priorities erodes. More broadly, the incident sets a precedent likely to be debated across collegiate athletics: when does tradition yield to safety? What protocols should govern game-day decisions in the wake of violence? As the investigation continues, other programs may revise their own crisis management plans, mindful of the delicate balance between honoring players and protecting them.

In the absence of commentary from independent experts, the facts remain stark. One teammate is in custody, two are recovering, and a program finds itself at a crossroads. The story of UAB’s senior day will be remembered not for the score, but for the decision that changed the conversation about what matters most in college sports.