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East Carolina player hurt in bizarre collision with ref: ‘Can’t say I’ve seen that before’

East Carolina’s David Coleman Jr. suffered a rare and unexpected injury during Saturday’s game against Temple when he collided with a referee between snaps.

The freshman running back fractured his fibula after the official accidentally slid into him, an incident that left Coleman limping off the field. The Pirates, who were already leading 17-3 at the time, went on to win 17-9, with Engleman contributing a second-half touchdown run of 107 yards to secure the victory.

The bizarre play has sparked discussion among coaches and officials about the need for clearer protocols during stoppages in college football.

Coleman’s injury adds to a season already marked by unusual on-field incidents, including a fatal traumatic brain injury suffered by Southern Nazarene’s Tyler Ulrich earlier this month. While East Carolina’s game concluded without further complications, the case underscores the unpredictable nature of collisions involving referees, who are not always accounted for in play strategies.

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