THREAD: We're about to find out what Oklahoma State believes in and what it doesn't in 2020.

Because, yesterday, Shannon Sharpe relayed a story he’d been told by former All-American and Colorado linebacker Alfred Williams.

In Williams’ story, he says Mike Gundy allegedly called he and others that despicable n-word with the hard R during the Buffaloes’ 41-17 stomping of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 1989.

Gundy refuted this in the papers days later.

After receiving a tip and seeing @loumoore12's tweet, I went looking for the story in the papers. I found a story referencing racist remarks in the Tulsa World and The Oklahoman following that game. But there was no mention of the n-word.

Then I found a notebook on the games that weekend in the Big Eight in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch dated Nov. 14, 1989 that gave a retelling of this incident.

In it, Colorado free safety Tim James alleged Gundy directed the n-word toward Black CU players several times.

“I can’t count the number of times he used that word,” James said. “He has no class. There’s no place for that.”

Williams is quoted in the story as saying he hoped not very many people raise their children to be like Gundy. He said things he had no business saying to anybody.

Williams is on-air talent at KOA in Denver. He discussed the incident again after Sharpe told his story earlier. Williams also said that it’s the only time that ever happened to him—in his entire life.

Williams said, "“I didn’t back down then,” Williams said, “I don’t back down now. . . . Every time I see him, I just want to run through him.

"Every time I see his face, every time I look at him, I want to run through him. . . . I’m 51 years old; why in the world do I need to lie about that?”

Gundy denied the allegations at the time they were made.

In a story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch story Gundy said, “They were doing the talking. Why would I say those things? I’ve been here four years, and half my friends [on the team] are black.”

On Thursday Williams told The Oklahoman he wants an apology from Gundy.

"I want an apology from him, and I want to see him have some growth,” he said. “If he denies that he said [that], I have at least 20 people who will vouch for what happened that day."

Then, last night on SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt, Gundy used the platform to apologize again for wearing a One America News Network T-shirt in a photo taken while he was fishing at Lake Texhoma.

This is a media entity that among other things has espoused that the Black Lives Matter moment is a figment of my imagination and a farce.

This is an indirect assault on Black people, and Gundy's donning the OANN brand and quoted compliments of it are one issue he's had to backtrack on.

Gundy told Van Pelt: "I didn’t know some of the stances they [OAN] had taken. I didn’t know that. But then you look at it and say, ‘OK, I was a dumbass.’"

In the Tulsa World story in '89 where Williams alleged Gundy called him and others the n-word, the World reported just four players who started on offense were Black.

Last year, 60 of Gundy's 106 players were Black. That's 56 percent of his team. Couple that with just 6 percent of these United States is populated with Black men and just 8 percent of the state of Oklahoma is Black at all.

And yet there are so many gridiron accomplishments OSU fans enjoy because of the work Black players have done.

It's Weeden to Blackmon—trying do that without Justin, a Black man.

It's go get Tylan Wallace, lined up on the numbers looking to pick a fight like his name is William Wallace.

It's Donovan Woods. It's Rashaun Woods on some Col. Stinkmeaner showing 'em what's really good. 

It's Tatum Bell and Kendall Hunter. It's Emanuel Ogbah and Ogbongbemiga.

It's OSU's first ever five-star Bobby Reid—the man Gundy patronized when he went after Jenni Carlson for reporting the news. He embarrassed the kid who eventually would have to leave the program for an HBCU. And he still hasn't publicly apologized to Carlson.

It's Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas. It's Chuba Hubbard being first in Stillwater to expose his coach to all of us. As the kiddos tell me, That's tough.

That's what Howard Bryant called The Heritage in book by the same name. John Carlos and Tommie Smith did it with a pair of black gloves. Muhammad Ali did with the people.

Jim Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar did it for the people. Paul Robeson did it before congress, and Chuba did it on Twitter.

The same Twitter Gundy said he could give a rat's scarlet letter, dollar sign, dollar sign about.

USA Today quoted Gundy in 2017 saying, “Hell, (OSU officials) stay mad at me 24/7. They’ll eventually run me off. They’ll get tired of me and run me off. But it is what it is.”

Does that sound like a man who is interested in keeping his job? 

Does that sound like a man who holds his job and the legacy of OSU in the highest regard? 

Does that sound like a man who fears his bosses or the wrath of the body public?

The Tulsa World reported a rollover clause that always keeps Gundy’s contractual status at five years.

Gundy is scheduled to make $5.25 million this year.

The World reports if OSU were to fire him today, without just cause, he would collect 75% of what he’s contractually owed — about $17 million.

Most believe the university can’t afford to buy him out. As if going 15-11 isn't good enough to buy Gundy out. Florida State and Arkansas did it to Willie Taggart and Chad Morris for less just six months ago. Bruh, Mississippi State fired Joe Moorhead, and he made a bowl game.

But, in Gundy’s contract, on a list of transgressions that would legally justify a firing with cause and without the big buyout, there is a header that reads “conduct affecting university.”

In it, again according to the World, there’s explanation for this kind of conduct:

“Participating in any conduct, committing any act, or becoming involved in any situation, occurrence, or activity that brings (Gundy) into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, or ridicule or that reflects unfavorably on the reputation or the high moral or ethical standards..."

When we talk about systemic failure, OSU's failure to flag this '89 story or extract more than a forced, prepared apology out of him is part of the problem. Mike Gundy pushed for bringing back  kids in April on May 1 for the sake of what he called money flowing through the state.

When we talk about systemic failure, OSU's inability to once again extract more than written statement I'd bet dimes to Mike's millions he didn't write that's the issue.

When Mike Gundy spoke about an extremist media entity and purported it to be last bastion of impartiality in media, OSU failed to correct him at all. That, too, is systemic failure.

This is your Baker Mayfield, Pokes. This is your talisman. This is your frontman to the world. And he is the personification of what the world thinks about you.

My question is:

What're you gonna do about it? Issue another statement? From who? Hargis and Holder have both done that just this week. That’s three issued statements in three months they’ve had to issue on Gundy’s behalf.

In the retelling of the triumph of T.C. Williams High School’s undefeated season called Remember the Titans, Gary Bertier couldn’t understand why Julius Campbell wouldn’t talk with him—despite everyone having to run three-a-day practices until they did.

What their conversation amounted to was protection. Campbell didn’t see Bertier protecting him or their quarterback. And then he said his attitude reflected Bertier’s leadership.

In making the positive changes Gundy claims they’re making in Stillwater—for which there has been zero transparency on what those are—I ask you to protect those players.

Protect those young men.

And remember the ultimatum Bertier gave to Ray Budds when he allowed their Black quarterback to get pelted once more. “If Julius gets to Rev once, just one time, just once more, I’m gonna hit you so hard that by the time you come to, ooh boy, you’re gonna need a new haircut.”

He protected him. There are more white folks than there are black folks. If change happens, it’s because they, like Gerry Bertier, have willed it so.

In his video statement Gundy said, “Black lives matter to me. Our players matter to me.”

Prove it. Not Gundy, but you, Oklahoma State.

Unroll this here: https://rj.substack.com/p/mike-gundy-doesnt-deserve-the-benefit