The abrupt resignation of longtime Oklahoma assistant coach Cale Gundy has continued to generate dialogue all through the school soccer world because the news was introduced Sunday night.
The ongoing consideration is undoubtedly an unwelcome growth for first-year Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, who was nonetheless addressing the matter three days later as quite a few well-known figures previous and current related to the program weighed in on each social media and in mainstream news retailers.
The excessive profile of the Sooners within the sport, in addition to the racially charged circumstances of Gundy’s departure, have fueled the thrill, and as is usually the case not the entire chatter within the on-line world has been particularly productive.
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For these new to the story, right here’s what we know:
Who is Cale Gundy?
Gundy was one of many top-ranked prospects after a profession at Midwest City (Okla.) High School. He performed at Oklahoma from 1990-93 and held nearly each important passing document when he completed his eligibility, together with profession marks for yards (6,686) and touchdowns (40).
He was employed as an assistant at Alabama-Birmingham and served for 4 seasons earlier than returning to his alma mater as a working backs coach when Bob Stoops was employed by the Sooners previous to the 1999 season. He spent the primary 16 years of his tenure in Norman teaching working backs earlier than shifting to receivers in 2015. Gundy was retained when Lincoln Riley was promoted to move coach in 2017 and likewise when Venables was employed final winter.
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What occurred within the assembly room?
According to statements issued by Gundy and Venables Sunday evening, Gundy uttered an inappropriate phrase universally acknowledged as a racial slur throughout a place assembly. Gundy describes the incident as having learn the phrase aloud from a display screen being utilized by one in every of his gamers, who presumably ought to have been taking notes. Both Gundy and Venables acknowledged that saying the “racially charged” phrase below any circumstance was unacceptable, and that Gundy could be unable to proceed to do his job successfully after such an indiscretion, whether or not intentional or not.
What has been the response at Oklahoma?
Gundy recruited and coached a few of the finest gamers within the historical past of the Oklahoma program. Among them are working backs Adrian Peterson, DeMarco Murry, Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine together with huge receivers Sterling Shepard, DeDe Westbrook and CeeDee Lamb.
Several of the previous gamers have issued statements of assist for Gundy. Mixon released a statement on Twitter shortly after the news of Gundy’s resignation broke Sunday detailing the optimistic influence his former coach had on his life. Peterson adopted with a similar post on Twitter the next day.
Murray, who’s presently the working backs coach at Oklahoma, called the incident “unacceptable” on Twitter whereas detailing optimistic emotions for his or her relationship. Westbrook and Perine additionally supplied assist.
Stoops in a radio interview stated the state of affairs “kills me” and hoped the group may transfer ahead.
In his Wednesday press conference, his first because the incident got here to gentle, Venables advised reporters that the group met for 3 hours Saturday to handle the state of affairs.
“My feeling is that it was amazing,” Venables stated. “Really, really, really transparent and just vulnerable. And it was terrific.
“One that sometimes through adversity causes those moments where you’ve got to take a pause and you have to have that to continue to move forward as a program. Trying to find good in a dark place and in a dark moment.”
Venables additionally expressed unhappiness about Gundy’s departure, however pleasure in regards to the elevation of L’Damian Washington into Gundy’s position.
“Nobody asked for this issue to happen, but how we respond ultimately, as we know, will determine how we are defined,” Venables stated.
“This issue aside, the Oklahoma program with Cale Gundy is stronger than one without him,” he added. “But I couldn’t be more excited about L’Damian Washington and the opportunity that he has with these guys this season.”
No gamers have spoken to the media in regards to the incident previous to Wednesday.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link