Mike Gundy reads scripted, insincere apology for wearing an OAN t-shirt, says Black Lives Matter

Oklahoma State football’s Mike Gundy apologized for wearing an OAN t-shirt.

Mike Gundy has officially apologized for wearing an OAN t-shirt while on a fishing trip.

The Oklahoma State football coach was under fire after he was photographed wearing an OAN t-shirt on Lake Texoma over the weekend. OAN is a far-right political news network and it offended enough Oklahoma State football players that running back Chuba Hubbard and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga threatened to boycott playing for Gundy unless some major changes were made.

Hubbard appeared in a video on Monday afternoon with Gundy to say that changes were already being made at Oklahoma State University. For one hot minute there, it seemed like Gundy would be fired from his alma mater. He has been the head coach of Oklahoma State football since Les Miles left for LSU back in 2005. People were wondering what his buyout would look like.

While national sports media pundits like ESPN’s Paul Finebaum have asked for his termination for Oklahoma State University, that doesn’t look to be the case any more. Here is what Gundy said in his formal video apology on Tuesday afternoon.

“I had a great meeting with our team today,” said Gundy.” “Our players expressed their feelings as individuals and as as team members. They helped me see through their eyes how the t-shirt affected their hearts. Once I learned about 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 has formally issued an apology for wearing an OAN t-shirt.

Gundy’s apology didn’t have the egg on his face type of feel to it like Kirk Ferentz did when he addressed the Iowa Hawkeyes’ strength and conditioning program scandal a few weeks go. Ferentz’s longtime strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle was placed on administrative leave and later fired over accusations of racism. His son Dillon Doyle entered the transfer portal.

Though we’ll have to take Gundy at his word, he did seem more angry than apologetic during his Oklahoma State PSA on Tuesday afternoon. The only other college football coach who has been in as much hot water over the Black Lives Matter movement has been Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney. However, criticism of him has faded after his powerful message last Saturday.

With two video messages in back-to-back days, we don’t need to see a third from Coach Gundy on Wednesday afternoon. Change is hard and that’s even if you’re willing to embrace change. It’s a difficult political climate we’re all in today and not everyone is going to be on the same wavelength of getting it as others. Let’s take Gundy’s apology for what it is and let’s move forward together.

Gundy and Oklahoma State football are working towards building a brighter future in Stillwater.

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