Sportsupdated 1h ago2 min read
Archive photo · 27 October 2012Referee Slips Into East Carolina’s David Coleman Jr, Fractures Fibula vs Temple
5 Western Mainstream2 Other1 Western AlternativePhoto: Lance Cpl. Glen Santy / US federal government, Public domain · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Referee slipped during Pirates' 17-9 win over Temple, colliding with Coleman Jr., causing an injury. ECU safety David Coleman Jr. sustained a fractured fibula.
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8 outlets told this the same way.
Referee slips, leg fractures
A referee slipped and slid into East Carolina defensive back David Coleman Jr during the first half of East Carolina Pirates' win against Temple Owls, and Coleman fell forward to the ground near the 40-yard line. Blake Harrell said Coleman Jr had an X-ray at half-time which showed he fractured his fibula during the incident, and Harrell added, "Our thoughts and our prayers are with him." East Carolina won the game 17-9, and Coleman Jr recorded one tackle before he left the field.
The New York Times placed the collision between plays near the 40-yard line at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, N.C., while players were standing on the field and an official ran in to address something near midfield. The incident left Coleman unable to put any weight on his right leg, and the Pirates helped him off the field with his arms draped over two East Carolina trainers.
Coach and fans react
Blake Harrell told reporters, "But that's just one of those things. Kind of wild it happens, I'd never seen that from an official," after the Pirates carried Coleman Jr off the field.
No Quarter ECU (@ECU_NoQuarter) posted, "A referee just broke one of our players legs. You can’t make this up," as the collision became a widely shared clip.
USA Today quoted a user saying, "Can't say I've seen that one before," while another account wrote, "This is the most ridiculous video I've ever seen," on the platform.
The New York Post said the official collided straight into Coleman’s right leg, and the defensive back had to be helped off the field before being taken to the hospital, according to the ESPN broadcast.
The Pirates refocused after losing Coleman Jr, and News.au said they went on to claim a 17-9 victory over the Owls to move to 2-2 for the 2026 season.
Injury details and stakes
The New York Times said Coleman immediately went to the turf and remained there, and he didn’t put any pressure on his right leg as he made his way toward the sideline. Harrell said an X-ray at halftime revealed that Coleman fractured a fibula, and the coach framed the collision as an accident after the first-half incident. Bleacher Report said the team had yet to announce the severity of Coleman's injury, even as it described the collision as a serious leg injury during Saturday's 17-9 win over Temple.
USA Today said Coleman Jr entered the game with only three appearances this season and six total tackles, and it described the collusion as a complete accident by the official. The incident occurred during the Pirates' American Conference matchup against Temple, and the New York Times said East Carolina entered Saturday with a 3-4 record while Temple was 2-5.