A University of Tennessee football coach is out of a job after posting a since-deleted tweet about a Georgia politician and this week’s run-off elections in the state.
Enraged by Tuesday night’s elections, which led to Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock winning seats in the U.S. Senate, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offensive line coach Chris Malone’s took to Twitter to insult former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams as well as the electoral process.
“Congratulations to the state GA and Fat Albert @staceyabrams because you have truly shown America the true works of cheating in an election, again!!!” Malone wrote. “Enjoy the buffet Big Girl! You earned it!!! Hope the money was good, still not governor!”
After verifying the tweet, the University of Tennessee’s athletic department removed Malone from his position with the football team and erased his bio from the school’s website.
“Last night, a totally inappropriate social media post by a member of our football staff was brought to my attention,” Chattanooga director of athletics Mark Wharton said in a statement. “The entire post was appalling. The sentiments in that post do not represent the values of our football program, our Athletics department or our University. With that said, effectively immediately, that individual is no longer a part of the program.”
Mocs head coach Rusty Wright also criticized Malone’s tweet.
“Our football program has a clear set of standards,” Wright said in a statement. “Those standards include respecting others. It is a message our players hear daily. It is a standard I will not waiver on. What was posted on social media by a member of my staff is unacceptable and not any part of what I stand for or what Chattanooga Football stands for. Life is bigger than football and as leaders of young men, we have to set that example, first and foremost. With that said, effectively immediately, that individual is no longer a part of my staff.”
In addition to aiding in the victories of the two Democratic senatorial candidates this week, Abrams, a onetime Democratic House leader in Georgia, helped President-elect Joe Biden carry the state in November.
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