New Alabama State Coach Brian Jenkins Allegedly Threatened Players With a Steak Knife at Former School, Bethune-Cookman

Brian Jenkins is the new head football coach at Alabama State University. From 2010 to 2014, Jenkins amassed a 46-14 record at Bethune-Cookman University in Florida. Since Jenkins’ hiring, the Montgomery Advertiser has spoken with a dozen former players and four former coaches who worked under Jenkins at Bethune-Cookman about his time at the FCS school. Under Jenkins’ leadership, the school allegedly committed a whole mess of NCAA violations. They are also accused of doing some straight up illegal stuff. 

For instance, there was a lawsuit filed because some assistant coaches didn’t get paid – which is especially amazing considering Jenkins’ salary at Bethune-Cookman was $265,000. (Editor’s Note: !?!?) Also, there was this one time at a team dinner when Jenkins allegedly threatened players with a steak knife. From the Montgomery Advertiser: 

"One of the incidents that apparently sparked the investigation at Bethune-Cookman involved Jenkins allegedly threatening two players — linebacker Rahdeese Alcutt and defensive end Brandin Hudson — with a steak knife at a pregame meal."

Now, before we jump to any conclusions, these are college kids. They probably did something to provoke the coach.

"According to a letter Alcutt provided at the request of Bethune-Cookman officials as part of the investigation, a teammate accidentally spilled a drink and Alcutt began laughing. Because Jenkins doesn’t allow talking at the pre-game meals, the commotion irked the head coach, Alcutt said."

See? You can’t laugh at the dinner table. Especially when there are specific rules about not talking. Silence builds character as well as teams. I’m pretty sure that’s what they did in Remember the Titans. Now, as for this “threat.” I’m sure that’s blown out of proportion.

"“At this time, Brian Jenkins walked over to me and picked up a knife and pointed it at me and (Hudson) saying, ‘Do I have to cut your (expletive) throats to get you to be quiet?” Alcutt wrote in the letter. Jenkins then stared at the two players for several seconds, he said."

You know, when you hear the whole story, it does sound kind of bad. Alcutt, who had already graduated, quit the team a few weeks later.

Please head over to the Montgomery Advertiser to read everything that happened under Jenkins’ watch at Bethune-Cookman. Like the fact that players were sometimes temporarily homeless. Or that time Jenkins called a 1am practice – their third practice in 18 hours. I hope these Alabama State kids are ready to work. Quietly.