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Syracuse football coach Dino Babers met with his players Tuesday following the stabbing incident over the weekend.

(Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannere)

Update: Babers has refuted details about instructing players not to wear Syracuse gear publicly

Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse head coach Dino Babers held a meeting with players Tuesday morning to discuss safety measures following the stabbing of two players on Saturday.

Three sources told Syracuse.com that Babers instructed his players not to wear any SU football clothing out in public places and not to travel alone as associates of Naesean Howard may be looking for them.

Howard, a former Orange defense back, was arrested for assaulting redshirt junior defensive backs Chauncey Scissum and Corey Winfield with a pocket knife on SU's South Campus.

Babers refuted aspects of the report during the ACC coaches' teleconference on Wednesday morning, calling them "incorrect and inaccurate."

"I actually told them to put their Syracuse 'S' on and wear it proudly around the campus," Babers said.

Babers said he will address the team every Tuesday at 8 a.m. during the offseason to discuss "real-life" topics. When asked if associates of Howard are monitoring for football players, Babers responded with the general safety message he says he issued to the players.

"I just told those guys to have common sense with the things they do in life," Babers said, "like looking both ways before your step off the curb so you don't get hit by a bus.

"I think that you can't live life looking over your shoulder; you have to live life. You can't be afraid to live it. I think these young men will be just fine and I think the University will be just fine."

Sources said on Tuesday that Babers did emphasize the importance of staying together and not letting the situation affect day-to-day life in addition to the safety precautions.

Howard was charged with two counts of assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. He is currently being held on $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond at Onondaga County Justice Center.

Winfield, who police say was stabbed in the right lower back, upper right chest, left abdomen and left wrist, was already out of the hospital and at home resting Monday night.

Scissum, who police say was stabbed in the right side of his neck, right upper chest, left shoulder and bottom lip, is in fair condition at Upstate University Hospital, a spokesperson said Tuesday night. Scissum arrived in critical, but stable condition, per Syracuse police.

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