Chuba Hubbard, the nation’s leading rusher last season, tweeted Monday that he “will not be doing anything with Oklahoma State until things CHANGE,” in response to a photo of coach Mike Gundy wearing an OAN T-shirt.
“I will not stand for this,” Hubbard posted. “This is completely insensitive to everything going on in society, and it’s unacceptable.”
OAN stands for One America News, a far-right news network often cited by President Donald Trump.
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
The photo of Gundy was posted on Facebook and shared on Twitter by CBS Sports writer Kyle Boone.
Hubbard, a junior from Alberta, Canada, rushed for 2,094 yards last year and was a first-team All-American and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Senior Teven Jenkins tweeted that the entire offensive line stood with Hubbard, while senior linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga and tweeted his support.
As an O-line we stand and support Chuba https://t.co/5zau9yTpCF
— maybe: tev (@TevenJenkins) June 15, 2020
I stand with him! https://t.co/WWOs2ALxml
— Amen Ogbongbemiga (@closedprayer) June 15, 2020
Not long after, former Oklahoma State players Justice Hill of the Baltimore Ravens and A.J. Green of the Cleveland Browns followed suit.
Can’t stay Silent Anymore! Call a Spade a Spade!! https://t.co/Ya8xTYIwEr
— AJ Green III (@AjGofor6) June 15, 2020
An Oklahoma State spokesperson said Monday the school had no comment.
While talking about the coronavirus during an April news conference, Gundy expressed displeasure with the “mainstream media,” saying that he watches One America News because “they just report the news” without commentary.
“People are getting the virus, they’re getting over it, they’re back out there in public, they have antibodies that can help fight it,” he said. “It’s truly interesting to me to see what the mainstream media, sadly enough just how negative everybody can be. Let’s just report the news. Let’s start putting things in there that are positive, because I know there’s positives out there.”
He later issued a statement saying, “I have been made aware that comments from my press conference have offended some. It was never my intention to offend anyone and I apologize. My first priority is and will always be the student-athletes and doing what is best for the program and the university.”