Penn State men’s basketball coach apologizes for racially insensitive ‘noose’ remark
Written by Victoria Scialfa on July 8, 2020
Penn State men’s basketball coach apologizes for racially insensitive ‘noose’ remark
By Andrew Destin, WSPU
July 8, 2020
On Monday, Penn State men’s basketball coach Patrick Chambers apologized for a racially insensitive remark made toward a player during the 2018-19 basketball season. WPSU intern Andrew Destin reports Chambers’ comment was about a noose.
According to the sports site The Undefeated, the comment came in January 2019 after a poor game by Rasir Bolton. The then freshman player remembers Chambers said, “I need to get some of this pressure off you. I want to loosen the noose that’s around your neck.”
Bolton, who is Black, says the comment led him to transfer to Iowa State after his freshman year. He says he’s speaking out now because players need to be better protected in situations like this one.
In Chambers’ apology, he said he realized his words were “hurtful, insensitive and unacceptable.”
Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Sandy Barbour, has since released a statement about the situation.
She said, “Patrick has stated that he is committed to educating himself and he is actively working to learn and grow, which will be imperative to his future success at Penn State.”
Music