Assistant Oklahoma football coach Cale Gundy has stepped down from his longtime position after he used a “shameful and hurtful” word during a team meeting, ESPN reports.
On Sunday (August 7), Gundy posted a lengthy statement on social media announcing his departure from the Sooners football program and apologizing for using the word, which he says he read off of a player’s iPad.
“I owe it to Sooner Nation to be transparent about what led to this decision: Last week, during a film session, I instructed my players to take notes,” the statement reads in part.
“I noticed a player was distracted and picked up his iPad and read aloud the words that were written on his screen. The words displayed had nothing to do with football," Gundy's statement continued. "One particular word that I should never — under any circumstance — have uttered was displayed on that screen."
"In the moment, I did not even realize what I was reading and, as soon as I did, I was horrified," he said.
“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. Still, I am mature enough to know that the word I said was shameful and hurtful, no matter my intentions,” Gundy added.
Though it remains unclear what "shameful and hurtful" word was said, many social media users have speculated that Gundy read a racial slur.
Former Sooners running back Joe Mixon also suggested that the word had racial implications in a statement defending Gundy after his resignation.
“I know racists, I have witnessed both obvious and discreet forms of racism and have known and detested even more actual racist[s],” Mixon’s statement reads in part. “Coach Gundy is the farthest thing from this type of person. I spent every day for the 1,000 days I was in Norman with him, and I never saw anything that would lead anyone to believe this or think this.”
Before parting ways with Oklahoma, Gundy worked as the wide receivers coach and assistant head coach.
According to reports, L’Damian Washington will take over his position.
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