Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy faced backlash on Monday when a photo was shared of him wearing a T-shirt featuring the logo of far-right TV network One America News — an outlet that promotes both racist and Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theories.
In the wake of the photo, Oklahoma State star running back Chuba Hubbard tweeted that he wouldn’t stand for that message and would instead stop doing “anything” associated with Oklahoma State football until things change. Other current and former players joined in to support Hubbard’s boycott.
Yet, in a matter of hours, Hubbard joined his head coach for a video that addressed the photo and tweet. And it wasn’t Gundy who apologized, but rather Hubbard was the one to say sorry for the tweet.
Change is coming I promise you that. pic.twitter.com/wTGHtByh3N
— Chuba Hubbard (@Hubbard_RMN) June 15, 2020
Gundy said as Hubbard stood besides him with arms crossed:
“In light of today’s tweet with the T-shirt I was wearing, I met with some players and realized that it’s a very sensitive issue with what’s going on in today’s society. And so, we had a great meeting and was made aware of some things that players feel like can make our organization or our culture even better than it is here at Oklahoma State. And I’m looking forward to making some changes, and it starts at the top with me. And we got good days ahead.”
Hubbard then apologized for the tweet, said he was focused on bringing change and shared a handshake with Gundy.
The obvious question here is why would Hubbard apologize?
It should have been Gundy apologizing for the message that shirt sent to his team — made predominately of Black players. As the nation protested against police brutality and racial injustice, Gundy decided to don a shirt of a network that compares the Black Lives Matter movement to a criminal organization.
But really, it goes beyond the shirt. Just in the past few weeks, Gundy has claimed his players wouldn’t be affected by coronavirus because they’re young. He also said his unpaid players needed to participate in the season because Oklahoma State football is needed for the state’s economy. The shirt was just another tone-deaf message from a millionaire coach who willfully avoids reading the room.
Hubbard followed up the video by vowing that results are coming.
No don’t get it twisted. Foots still on the gas. Results are coming. It’s not over.
— Chuba Hubbard (@Hubbard_RMN) June 16, 2020
Those results should start with Gundy acknowledging the disrespect he showed to his own team.
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