Head Coach Mike Gundy Issues Apology To Oklahoma State Players, Alumni
Jun 16, 2020, 4:14 PM | Updated: Apr 26, 2021, 3:48 pm
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy issued an apology to his football players, alumni and their families after he was seen wearing an OAN t-shirt.
Gundy is seen in a photograph on Twitter wearing the shirt with the letters OAN. In a tweet responding to the photo, Hubbard said: “I will not stand for this. This is completely insensitive to everything going on in society, and it’s unacceptable. I will not be doing anything with Oklahoma State until things CHANGE.”
“I had a great meeting with our team today,” Gundy said. “Our players expressed their feelings as individuals and as team members. They helped me see through their eyes how the t-shirt affected their hearts. Once I learned how that network felt about Black Lives Matter, I was disgusted and knew it was completely unacceptable to me. I want to apologize to all members of our team, former players and their families for the pain and discomfort that has been caused over the last two days. Black Lives Matter to me, our players matter to me. These meetings with our team have been eye-opening and will result in positive changes for Oklahoma State football. I sincerely hope the Oklahoma State family – near and far – will accept my humble apology as we move forward.”
— Mike Gundy (@CoachGundy) June 16, 2020
Several current and former Oklahoma State athletes responded to Hubbard’s tweet with support. Current linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga declared “I stand with him!” while former Cowboys running back Justice Hill, now with the Baltimore Ravens, tweeted: “OSU Athletics and University need major change. 100% support brotha.”
The president of Oklahoma State responded to the incident on Twitter saying, “We will not tolerate insensitive behavior by anyone at Oklahoma State.”