Florida assistant Jabbar Juluke has been suspended for three games because of the role he played in a pre-game altercation between the Gators and LSU on Saturday, per ESPN’s Heather Dinich.
Florida and the SEC announced the suspension on Tuesday.
“Jabbar Juluke’s conduct during the pregame altercation reflects behavior that is unacceptable and not aligned with the standards of the Southeastern Conference,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a news release. “Coaches are expected to be leaders and to de-escalate tense situations, and that did not happen in this circumstance. This suspension is appropriate, and any future misconduct by Jabbar Juluke will result in more severe disciplinary action.”
Before kickoff between Florida and No. 3 LSU, a handful of players and coaches were involved in a brief scuffle, but no penalties were issued to either team. LSU won the game 20-10.
Juluke released a statement of his own following the announcement of the suspension.
“I, first, would like to apologize to both Florida and LSU universities, their teams, staff and fans. I also sincerely apologize to the young athlete and his family. On Saturday, I reacted in a manner I’m not proud of. There’s no excuse for my behavior and I take full responsibility for my actions. In this game, emotional situations occur and bad reactions happen. I regret my reaction and commit to using this moment to strengthen my emotional intelligence.
“I know more is expected of us as coaches, and I commit to living up to that expectation. I believe growth is in ownership and learning from the good and the bad. I intend to use this situation as a teachable moment, not only for myself, but for those I impact. Again, I offer my sincerest apologies to both institutions and the staffs and families involved.”
Juluke, Florida’s running backs coach, joined the Gators in 2022 upon Billy Napier’s arrival. He was also on Napier’s staff at Louisiana from 2018 to 2021. Juluke was previously LSU’s running backs coach in 2016 on Les Miles’ staff.
The suspension comes at an inopportune time for the Gators. They’re currently sitting at 1-2 on the season after losses to USF and LSU, and now face a three-game slate that features No. 4 Miami, No. 8 Texas and No. 10 Texas A&M.
With Napier’s job likely in question following a rough start to the year, going 0-3 during that stretch would only make his seat hotter. Unfortunately for the Gators, an already tough stretch gets even harder without Juluke.
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