University of Texas backup center Buck Burnette was kicked off the team by Coach Mack Brown after he posted this message on his Facebook page:
“all the hunters gather up, we have a #$%&er in the whitehouse”
Before he took his Facebook page down, Burnette offered an apology of sorts:
Clearly I have made a mistake and apologized for it and will pay for it. I received it as a text message from an acquaintance and immaturely put it up on facebook in the light of the election. Im not racist and apologize for offending you. I grew up on a ranch in a small town where that was a real thing and I need to grow up. I sincerely am sorry for being ignorant in thinking that it would be ok to write that publicly and apologize to you in particular. I have to be more mature than to put the reputation of my team at stake and to spread that kind of hate which I dont even believe in. Once again, I sincerely apologize.
Longhorn fans went back and forth over whether it was right to kick Burnette off the team. From the pro-kick him off side:
I am glad he was kicked off. He supposedly is a “Christian” and spoke to youth groups at his home town as a role model. What a terrible example of christianity he is. I am embarrassed to say he is from Wimberley [Texas]. Those comments don’t just accidentally get posted. Buck’s true colors are showing.
From the anti side:
What he said was stupid and inexcusable. That being said he is still just a 20 year old kid. He deserves a second chance as much as anyone. Who among us didn’t say or do something you later regretted when you were 20?
Burnette has every right to his views, but no right to be on the football team. Brown was well within his purview to take whatever action he deemed appropriate.
Hat tip to Deadspin.
on Nov 6th, 2008 at 9:12 PM
“All the hunters gather up.” This sounds like a threat against President-elect Obama’s life.
More punishment than being kicked off the team is required here.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 12:24 AM
This would be a threat that violates not only team policy but University policy as well. So kicking him off the team is quite justified. The behavior could also be brought to some disciplinary level in the University as well….
Additionally, should this be considered a threat? Absolutely a statement of some sort should at least be taken.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 12:44 AM
Personally, I wouldn’t want a center (often one of the smarter guys on the team) to be so stupid as to do something like that.
What is he had said “we have a fag in the White House”? I just wonder if the punishment would have been the same.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 7:40 AM
This kid did a dumb thing, but don’t kid yourselves this sort of thing is probably going on in every locker room around the country. People are stupid, his mistake was posting it on Facebook. But honestly most locker rooms (with majority white players) are probably joking about the same thing.
I don’t believe he’s a racist, just stupid.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 9:42 AM
How did he think his black teammates were going to react to this posting on Facebook? What an idiot! Sadly he is probably going to be made into a martyr or hero by some like-mided folks.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 11:55 AM
My son attends the University of Mississippi. When Obama was announced the winner, a small group of black students in a dorm lobby starting cheering. Within minutes, some white students started calling them the N word. Several figths broke out — campus security was called and a couple of students arrested. Ole Miss has come a long way since the early days of integration and, as we saw, one of the debates took place on their campus. Sadly, racism is racism — and sometimes authorities must make examples out of young people like this Texas player. Ultimately, he represents the University of Texas, the State of Texas and as a scholarship player at a public university he should know better. Oh, BTW — Ole Miss officials stepped in and killed the fight story for obvious PR reasons.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 11:56 AM
He is obviously a racist and that is his choice. I think it was appropriate to kick him off the football team. As an athlete representing a university, you are set to higher standards. Furthermore, I would be concerned about the affect his divisive comments has on the team when there are black and white young men working towards a common goal. I also think he should be investigated by the authorities and maybe charged for threatening the President.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 12:19 PM
I am a dark Hispanic, Kids do and say stupids things, community service in the hood or mentoring black kids would be a better chance. America is about second chances.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 12:21 PM
1. He is a kid.
2. He said something stupid
3. I doubt he was threatening to assassinate the president-elect of the US.
4. You might not like what he said, but he can say it. Its protected speech.
If we hung everyone for the stupid things they have said and done, there would not be a ton of people left. He made a mistake, apologized and got kicked off the football team, thats enough. Anything further is cruel.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 12:56 PM
20 years old is not a kid. He is a grown ass man.
Calling on “hunters” implies a viable threat. He should be investigated by the FBI.
Using the N-word means you are a racist. Are stupid and racist mutually exclusive?
Or are you saying he’s just stupid for saying it out loud?
Cyd, you always go back to the “what if it were gay” scenario when it comes to race issues. Comparing skin color to an orientation you can hide is not a viable critique. It never will be.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Jay,
Yes. 20 is a kid. I am 27 and still get called kid. If saying N****er makes you racist, then there are alot of self hating blacks out there. He should not be investigated by the FBI for stating outloud what he is thinking. There is a difference between saying something and doing it. If he was caught on the whitehouse lawn Jan 21 with a hunting rifle, then investigating him has merit. Otherwise this is a hysterial overreaction to something a KID said.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 2:05 PM
Chris,
No. 20 is not a kid, being 20 is considered a man. He may have immature way, but he is a man. Sure he has the right to say what he thinks, as long as what he says doesn’t cause a uproar or ruckus. We he spoke of hunters that was a threat, very much like laughing at lynching someone. Saying deflammatory actions are and should be handled proactively. One shouldn’t wait till a person collects all the ingredients to make a bomb and then try to stop them, when you know what is going on beforehand. That comment, thought, and action was racist and he should be kicked off the team plus more.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Jay,
This is the problem with modern America. He SAID something, he didnt DO anything. He expressed his opinion, whether you agree with it or not. 20 is a kid. He proved he is a kid because he said this in the first place. There was no action, it was a random thought, he apologized, he isnt playing football, end of story.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Chris, according to the US Statue covering threats to presidential candidates, 18 U.S.C. 879, verbal threats are considered true threats. People have been arrested and/or questioned for it in the past.
Yes, there are a lot of self hating blacks out there, that’s why black people shoot each other for shit they’d never kill any other ethnic group for like looking at someone the wrong way…But that’s not what we’re discussing and it doesn’t make white racism justifiable. In fact some could argue that the root of black self hatred stems from centuries of white racism. I believe people have free will so I don’t buy into that argument totally, but it makes sense.
If you want to call yourself a “kid” at 27, that’s your right, I guess. I’ve always taken pride in the fact that when I turned 18 I was considered a man, not a child. Where I’m from people get married at 18 and start families, they work jobs and are responsible citizens. If I weren’t gay I’d have done the same thing. I stopped taking money from my Dad at 16 because I went out and got a job. Maybe they do it differently in small town Texas, but the friends I know from down there grew up similar to the way I did in terms of being accountable for yourself and when the time comes stepping up and being a man about yours.
By the way, I’m not Rey J.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 7:53 PM
People have an idea of what freedom of speech means. All that means is that he has a legal right to say it. It does not mean that you can say anything you want without any consequences. He hasn’t been arrested, he’s been kicked off a football team for behavior that is detrimental to the success of the team.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Personally,
As a black gay man who played college ball. I would expect more out of my teammate. I would personally not want to be in the same locker room with someone who seemingly had no regards toward my feelings as a black man. However, I do believe he made a mistake. I believe that mistake on his part was probably stating his true feelings on Facebook. With that said, I’m only 24 and still use Facebook. And there were a ton of comments that I didn’t expect from people I considered to be my friends, and have seemingly lost a ton of respect for up to this point.
So to save the reputation of the UT football team, to keep peace in the locker room. The coach did the right thing.
on Nov 8th, 2008 at 3:03 AM
Stop defending a RACIST.
RACISTS COME IN ALL COLORS and RELIGIONS.
Until America stops allowing racism and discrimination nobody should feel safe.
on Nov 8th, 2008 at 3:47 AM
Manor,Tx- manor was one of the schools he played against in high school. Wimberly’s (texas) racist behavior showed then I’m not surprised! My son was a defensive end at manor high graduated 2006 and played against racist Wimberly… CHICKEN”S CAME HOME TO ROOST!! EH?? COWBOY?? MY son is still at school.. Midwestern State!! where are you now BIG GUY??
Can we say string up them mustangs now????LOL
Mack Brown (U.T. Football Coach) has always had zero tolerence for bad behavior of players… Way to go MACk!!!!
on Nov 8th, 2008 at 5:04 AM
He meant it, every word of it. I don’t accept his apology and he can go to hell with it still on his lips. Once a racist always a racist. I hope the school never lets that hunky back on the team!!
on Nov 8th, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Kick his ass all the way up to Alaska and their secessionists.
on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Why is he sorry after being blasted out??? Own who you are. To cry he didn’t know any better or immature is a cop-out. Anybody knows to treat someone else (especially the President) how they would like to be treated he made threatening comments. Before anyone commits an action the seed of a thought is there first. He thought it, wrote it, who is to say he would not commit it? He should be brought before the Fed’s like anyone else who makes terrorist threats.
on Nov 10th, 2008 at 1:31 PM
Dick you are so ignorant you can’t even spell what you are.
on Nov 10th, 2008 at 1:40 PM
20 is not a kid. FYI we have 20 year olds dying in Iraq for this country & I doubt they would support his racist terrorist threats of our President. He of all people should know better he is err WAS on a team and teams do not have a color. It takes the entire team to achieve the goal in anything in life. Good bye & good ridence bucky boy.