Why did Oklahoma assistant coach Cale Gundy resign?
Oklahoma Sooners long-time assistant Cale Gundy has resigned from the university after 23 years after reading a racial charged word in a team meeting.
Long standing University of Oklahoma assistant coach Cale Gundy resigned frrom his position on Monday after saying a word “that I should never, under any circumstances, have uttered” during a team meeting.
Gundy read words multiple times according to Venables
The former inside receivers coach was heading up a film session last week and stopped when one of his receivers was on his iPad instead of paying attention and jotting down notes.
He picked up the iPad, read whatever message was on the screen at the time, and in reading said a word that would end up costing him his job. The racially charged word has not been specified but he did repeat it more than once. There are only a few words that can trigger an emotional reaction that could get a coach like Gundy in hot water.
“Coach Gundy resigned from the program because he knows what he did was wrong,” said Sooners head coach Brent Venables after Venables resigned. “He chose to read aloud to his players, not once, but multiple times, a racially charged word that is objectionable to everyone, and does not reflect the attitude and values of our university or our football program.”
Gundy takes responsibility
In the end it was Gundy himself who owned up to his mistake. Before the school or the NCAA could look into the matter, he took it upon himself to resign as assistant coach after 23 years on the Oklahoma sideline.
“The unfortunate reality is that someone in my position can cause harm without ever meaning to do so,” said Gundy on his Twitter account. “In that circumstance, a man of character accepts accountability. I take responsibility for this mistake. I apologize.”
The former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback of the early 90s took accountability of his actions, but did make it clear that the word he used was read, and did not come his own train of thought. “I want to be very clear: the words I read aloud from that screen were not my words. What I said was not malicious; it wasn’t even intentional,” Gundy wrote. “Still, I am mature enough to know that the word I said was shameful and hurtful, no matter my intentions.”
Mixon sticks up for former coach
One of the people jumping to Gundy’s defense was former OU stand out and current Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon, who tweeted a long and heartfelt message after the news broke yesterday. In the message Mixon credits Gundy for bringing him to Oklahoma, and setting him on a path to succeed after he left Norman. He also stood up for his former coach claiming that Gundy is not a racist, and doesn’t have “a racist bone in his body, mind or soul.”