As if Duke’s loss to Bill Belichick and the rival North Carolina Tar Heels wasn’t bad enough, head coach Manny Diaz may have to seriously discipline one of his players over an incident involving the medical staff.
In the middle of the third quarter, Duke CB Landan Callahan got injured and was on his back being tended to by trainers and medical staff. Duke cornerback Kimari Robinson went over him to express concern and looked over his teammate.
But as another trainer moved in to help, she pushed Robinson out of the way to attend to him. Robinson didn’t appreciate the woman trying to push him and swatted her arm away in a very awkward exchange.
The trainer seemed shocked at first but quickly went back to work helping Callahan.
Fan outrage was swift.
As brief as the incident may have been, a number of football fans watching at home were mortified that Robinson would put his hands on a trainer, let alone a woman who was significantly smaller than him. Robinson has been criticized heavily for his actions and some are calling for him to be disciplined or even kicked off the team for it:
“Honestly unless #5 is getting a medical degree at Duke then he doesn’t need to be there…that trainer should file a complaint to the school. If that player is on a scholarship, then take it away. He looked at her then swiped her arm… (expletive) move,” one user wrote on X.
“Anyone who defending the Duke player Kimari Robinson for putting his hands on a female athletic trainer is a coward,” another declared.
“Horrible reaction from the Duke player. Shes quite literally attempting to do her job to keep his teammate safe. He should be running lines for a week,” a third wrote.
“This is an absolute horrible look by Kimari Robinson. I understand that he is looking out for his teammate but this woman is simply doing her job. Not good.”
“Kimari Robinson needs to be expelled from the team starting tomorrow, no need for that unnecessary nonsense in college football.”
Lance King/Getty Images
We know that emotions can get high when friends and teammates are involved, but there is a level of awareness that needs to be in place at all times.
Will Robinson face discipline from the school for this incident?
