In the aftermath of Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy’s decision to wear an OAN shirt during a recent fishing trip raising concerns about his views on race, an old story from his days as a college football player has resurfaced.
Alfred Williams, who played nine seasons in the NFL and made the Pro Bowl once as a defensive end, faced off against Gundy in college in 1989 while he was playing for the Colorado Buffaloes and the OSU coach was playing for the Cowboys.
According to Williams, Gundy, OSU’s quarterback, called him the N-word and used the racial slur multiple times during Colorado’s 41-17 win. At the time, an article about the allegations appeared in The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Gundy denied using that type of language to the paper.
Mike Gundy refuted using the n-word following a 41-17 loss to Colorado.
Here's the story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Tuesday Nov. 14, 1989. pic.twitter.com/RKSZib4IkT
— RJ Young (@RJ_Young) June 17, 2020
With all the talk about Gundy’s views of race rekindled thanks to his OAN shirt, Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe brought up the story on FS1’s Undisputed, and Williams gave an interview to The Oklahoman about the matter.
.@ShannonSharpe discusses his call with Alfred Williams, who was reportedly on the receiving end of a racial comment made by Mike Gundy when they were both college players in 1989 pic.twitter.com/EFIPxVrjdi
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) June 17, 2020
“I remember that it was the first time that the University of Colorado beat Oklahoma State while I was there,” Williams told paper. “It was a big win. It really was a big win. And I remember Mike Gundy called me the N-word. That’s what I remember. I want an apology from him and I want to see him have some growth. If he denies that he said [that], I have at least 20 people who will vouch for what happened that day.”
Originally this all started after OSU star running back Chuba Hubbard took exception with his coach wearing a shirt promoting a far-right news network that has called the Black Lives Matter movement a “farce.”
I will not stand for this.. This is completely insensitive to everything going on in society, and it’s unacceptable. I will not be doing anything with Oklahoma State until things CHANGE. https://t.co/psxPn4Khoq
— Chuba Hubbard (@Hubbard_RMN) June 15, 2020
Hubbard’s criticism was seconded by many other players and ultimately led to Gundy issuing an apology after his back was squarely against the wall.
— Mike Gundy (@CoachGundy) June 16, 2020
Since taking over at OSU in 2005, Gundy has gone 129-64-0 as the coach of the Cowboys and the team has made 14 bowl appearances in 15 years. However, following the 2019 season, the Cowboys just are 2–13 against the Oklahoma Sooners under Gundy and haven’t beaten their cross-state rivals since 2014.
That horrible rivalry record and Gundy’s ability to make headlines for all the wrong reasons may ultimately lead the Cowboys to tell him to hit the trail.
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