David Hookstead
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Albany State University coach Quinn Gray has apologized for offering Marcus Stokes a scholarship.
The four star QB recruit recently revealed he had earned a scholarship offer from the D.II Rams. Stokes had previously been committed to the Florida Gators, but lost his scholarship offer after he filmed himself singing lyrics that contained a racial slur.
Now, after it appeared he would still get a shot to play college football, Albany State, an HBCU program, has walked back the program’s offer.
Gray said the following in part in his apology:
Let me start with a humble apology. An apology for not honoring the tradition and history of ASU and for letting many of you down. I didn’t uphold the Ramily standard that I know you expect. Please know that my decision to speak with a student that did not meet your expectations was unacceptable. I only wanted the best for our team, athletes, and institution when I invited the student to visit ASU. As I say to our players, “there is a consequence to every action.” The consequences of my actions brought pain to our University. I was trying to help a student get back in competition, and in my haste, I did not consider the impact the decision would have on all of you. Frankly, it wasn’t my place to use ASU as the platform for redemption in this case. I regret that I used flawed judgment. If given the opportunity, I will do better.
Marcus Stokes still needs a team.
This situation is truly starting to get out of control. Marcus Stokes is a kid who made a foolish and dumb mistake. Filming yourself singing a racial slur is absolutely not smart, but we’re talking about a child here.
What happened to grace, mercy, growth and education? Is ruining Marcus Stokes’ life over a dumb mistake worth it?
As I’ve said before, there’s a reason the courts seal youth criminal records. As a society, we recognize the mistakes of children shouldn’t be held against them forever.
Apparently, that doesn’t apply to a teenage football player who filmed himself singing inappropriate song lyrics.
Marcus Stokes still has offers from West Florida, which is also a DII program, and FCS HBCU Alabama A&M. I’ve reached out to his father, and will update you with any more information he has. Overall, this situation is starting to get pretty shameful. If we’re going to ruin the lives of kids for dumb mistakes, then we’re in a dark place as a country.
Again, just so I understand. The word is so hateful, that anyone saying is shunned, demonized, and removed from civilization. But…Black men and women use the word- all the time. Black men and women put the word into hip-hop songs all the time. And hip-hop, being so popular, is sung by boys, girls, men, women of all colors- all the time. But this kids, singing lyrics to a hip-hop song is now dismissed from life because he’s got the wrong color of skin to speak the lyrics to a song?
If this word is so vile, Black Americans need to shut it down, quit using it, and monitor themselves. When you hand out the word like candy, a kid reaches for the candy, and you then destroy the kid for eating the candy, who’s the evil one here?
Well said.
Nailed it! This HBCU coach is yet another of the multitudes of moral cowards. The kid should run from this creep. He clearly does not have his back. This story highlights our corrupts, despicable culture and the cowardice that tolerated it.
You said it better than I ever could. Is the coach going to dismiss any of his players if he hears them say it? Of course not. He wouldn’t have a team to put on the field.
They are racists.
A lot to unpack here:
1. This is what happens when white kids try to act black. They can`t get away with as much sh*t (like dropping the N bomb)
2. The mob obviously got to the coach. This coach couldn`t walk this thing back quick enough. He is now the mob`s property.
3. As far as offers: this kid went from Florida to D2. Why can`t he get another D1 offer at least? Is everyone running away from him or is he just not that good?
4. If he`s that good, why is he bothering with an HBCU school? That`s pretty much the last stop.
Good thing everyone is so tolerant and forgiving. If this were a black kid, no one would care.
let’s not forget, a terrible “comedian” once called the sitting president of the US this word in front of the whole world:
https://time.com/4316322/larry-wilmore-obama-n-word/
but how dare a 17 year old white kid sing a damn song…. this is tragic.