A bizarre exchange at the end of a softball game between Florida and Auburn could have a lot more behind it than just a shove and some shouting. Auburn senior Haley Fagan refused to shake the hand of Florida coach Tim Walton, who shoved the player’s shoulder when she ignored him.
Auburn softball player and Florida coach have heated postgame exchange after long history
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Initially, you might think this was an unintentional moment that led to a misunderstanding, but it’s clear there’s something more. Fagan deliberately avoided raising her hand, and Walton, clearly upset, made a point of shoving her in the shoulder and causing an altercation.
Why do a softball player and an opposing coach dislike each other so much? It’s about family. Kasey and Sami Fagan, sisters of the Auburn senior, both played for Florida before being dismissed by Walton before the 2012 NCAA tournament. At the time the players’ father called it “an altercation on the team,” but there there are additional rumors about why the Fagan sisters were kicked off the team. These will not be confirmed by former Florida players, but have been chronicled by Alligator Army, SB Nation’s Florida gators blog.
There’s obviously some bad blood, and not wanting to shake hands is understandable — but why this needed to escalate is a little confusing. There’s been no word from either school or the SEC regarding the incident.
Update: Tim Walton issued the following statement.
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