Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables urged his players to “shut up about what really happened” in a bid to prompt longtime Sooners assistant Cale Gundy to resign Sunday, according to a since-deleted tweet from the player’s daughter outgoing coach emerges.
“The truth always comes out,” Cale’s daughter Cat wrote Monday in reply to Venables, “it’s only a matter of time.”
Responding to a statement by Venables, Cat accused her father of repeatedly using a “racially charged” word during a filming session with gamers.
A day earlier, Cale had announced his retirement in a social media post, saying only that he had used “shameful” language towards players but warned that the offensive word was “not malicious”; it wasn’t even intentional.’
The incident happened during a recent film session when the assistant coach found a Sooners player distracted and looking at his iPad, Cale said in his statement. He then picked up the device and read off the screen a word that he now acknowledges “should never have – under any circumstances – been uttered.”
Cale claimed he was “horrified” when he realized what he had inadvertently said, but Venables gave a different account, explaining that the assistant repeated the word.
“Coach Gundy left the program because he knows what he did was wrong,” Venables said in his second statement on Gundy’s exit. “He has chosen to read his players not just once but multiple times a racially charged word that is offensive to everyone and does not reflect the attitude and values of our university or our football programme.
‘This is not acceptable. Period. Coach Gundy did the right thing when he stepped down.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables (right) urged his players to “shut up about what really happened” to prompt longtime Sooners assistant Cale Gundy (far left) to resign Sunday, as per a since-deleted tweet outgoing coach’s daughter, cat (near left)
In the since-deleted tweet (pictured), Cat responded to a statement by Venables accusing Cale of repeatedly using a “racially charged” word during a filming session with gamers
Venables made his clarification on Monday after Gundy, a longtime Sooners assistant, announced his retirement after admittedly using “shameful” language with his players
While Cat Gundy’s tweeted a response only to delete it, her father has not commented on Venables’ claim that he used the word “multiple times.”
However, he apologized for his actions in his statement on Sunday.
“The unfortunate reality is that someone in my position can do harm without ever intending to do so. In these circumstances, a man of character takes charge,” said Cale Gundy. “I take responsibility for my mistake. I apologize.’
L’Damian Washington has been tapped to replace Gundy as interim coach of Sooners wide receivers.
Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy’s brother, Cale received support from several prominent former Sooners.
‘[I] I know him as a man of character and a person who loves and cares about his players as much as OU does,” tweeted former head coach Bob Stoops, who hired Cale Gundy 23 years earlier. “Thank you Cale for all the hard work you put into our program, it will be remembered!”
“I know and respect the man that you are,” former running back and Heisman contestant Adrian Peterson tweeted.
“Not only is he my former coach, he’s a great friend of mine who will always be that and more,” added another former Sooners running back DeMarco Murray.
Joe Mixon, a former OU now running back with the Cincinnati Bengals, wrote that Cal Gundy is “in no way a racist.”
Gundy was the Sooners quarterback from 1990 to 1993 and finished the tournament with more than 6,000 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. He has also worked as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He resigned as assistant coach in a statement on Sunday (right)
Bengals running back and former Oklahoma star Joe Mixon defended Gundy in a statement
Mixon defended Gundy in a statement, saying his former trainer was not a racist
L’Damian Washington (pictured) is set to replace Gundy as interim coach of the Sooners wide receivers
The Gundy family is used to controversy.
Mike, who was quarterback at rival Oklahoma State before becoming the Cowboys coach in 2005, was accused of using the N-word at an African-American player from Colorado in 1989.
Alfred Williams, a former star Colorado linebacker and NFL player, retold the story to The Oklahoman in 2020, adding that he wants to apologize and hopes to see “some growth” from Mike Gundy.
“I remember the first time the University of Colorado beat the state of Oklahoma while I was there,” Williams told The Oklahoman Wednesday night. “It was a big win. It was really a big win.
“And I remember Mike Gundy calling me the N-word. I remember that.’
Offensive coordinator Cale Gundy of the Oklahoma Sooners greets his brother, head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys before their game at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Stillwater, Oklahoma
As allegations against Gundy surfaced again, so did his denial after the 41-17 loss
Alfred Williams, a former star Colorado linebacker and NFL player, retold the story to The Oklahoman, adding that he wants to apologize and hopes to see “some growth” from Gundy, who he doesn’t want to fire
A spokesman for the Oklahoma Department of Sports told the Chron Gundy would not comment on the allegations.
Williams’ claims were corroborated by several teammates and himself after Colorado’s 41-17 win over the Cowboys in Stillwater, Oklahoma on November 12, 1989.
“He told me and a few other guys on the field,” linebacker Kanavis McGhee told The Oklahoman at the time. “It got me really excited.
“There’s a guy in the spotlight all the time, it’s not cool at all to say that. It just cheered us on.”
Williams, Bruce Young and Okland Salavea also reported the allegation to the media at the time.
Image of then-OSU quarterback Mike Gundy (right) and teammate Hart Lee Dykes in 1988
Gundy denied it to reporters after the game.
“I didn’t say it,” Gundy said. “It’s just not true. I’ve been here four years and well over half my friends are black.
“I just didn’t say that; I wouldn’t say such a thing.’
According to a St. Louis Dispatch article from the game, Gundy denied the allegations and told reporters that the Buffaloes players initiated the trash talking. He went on to tell the media to read a Sports Illustrated article about Colorado’s disciplinary issues within the football program.
Speaking to Oklahoman in 2020, Williams said he didn’t see Gundy’s rejection until this week.
“If he denies he said (that), I have at least 20 people who will vouch for what happened that day.
“I’m a little upset because after 31 years I finally saw the story that ran in your Oklahoma newspapers,” Williams continued, referring to the 1989 game story of The Oklahoman. “That was the first one Time I saw some of the responses to what I said.
“In the St. Louis Dispatch, he said, ‘Look at the University of Colorado and their players. They have rapists.”
Williams, who played nine NFL seasons, is not mentioned in the SI article and has not been charged with a crime in Colorado.
Gundy became Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator in 2001 and was promoted to head coach at his alma mater in 2005. He has a Big 12 title and was named 2010 Conference Coach of the Year.
According to a St. Louis Dispatch article from the game (left), Gundy denied the allegations and told reporters that the Buffaloes players initiated the trash talking. He went on to tell the media to read a Sports Illustrated article about Colorado’s disciplinary issues within the football program. Buffaloes teammates Alfred Williams, Kanavis McGhee Bruce Young and Okland Salavea reported the allegation to the media at the time, as seen in this 1989 article by The Oklahoman (right).