Oklahoma Football Coach Ousted For Reading Forbidden Word

A longtime University of Oklahoma assistant football coach lost his job, apparently for reading an unspecified bad word.

Cale Gundy, who played quarterback for the Sooners in the early 1990s and had been part of the coaching staff since 1999, most recently as the receivers coach, resigned Sunday night after a controversy that began in the film room. He said he caught a player looking at an iPad when he was supposed to be studying game film, and when he read aloud what was on the device, he spoke the word that cost him his job.

“The words displayed had nothing to do with football,” Gundy said Sunday. “One particular word that I should never — under any circumstances — have uttered was displayed on that screen. In the moment, I did not even realize what I was reading and, as soon as I did, I was horrified.”

Gundy seemed to accept that merely pronouncing the word or words was a career-ender, even though he didn’t use it as an epithet.

Sooner Nation, thank you. pic.twitter.com/BYBOjObGna

— Cale Gundy (@calegundy) August 8, 2022

“I want to be very clear: the words I read aloud from that screen were not my words. What I said was not malicious; it wasn’t even intentional,” Gundy said. “Still, I am mature enough to know that the word I said was shameful and hurtful, no matter my intentions. The unfortunate reality is that someone in my position can cause harm without ever meaning to do so.”

Oklahoma Head Coach Brent Venables accepted Gundy’s resignation without defending him.

“It’s with sadness that I accept Coach Gundy’s resignation,” Venables said. “The culture we’re building in our program is based on mutual respect. Our staff is here to develop successful student-athletes, but also young men of character. As the leaders of this program, it’s essential that we hold ourselves to the highest standards as we model for our players the type of men we want them to become.”

Not everyone thought Gundy deserved to be run out of Norman for reading something aloud. Former Sooners running back Joe Mixon, now an NFL star with the Cincinnati Bengals, said Gundy deserved better.

Sooner Nation This Ain’t Right‼️ @OU_Football pic.twitter.com/2WoKGrxcXX

— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) August 8, 2022

In a long and thoughtful statement Mixon tweeted out, he said Gundy was a good coach, caring mentor, and not a racist.

“I offer my highest support and admiration for Coach Gundy, and will be extremely disappointed with the school, the program, and the administrators if he is not allowed to continue as a coach at the university going forward,” Mixon wrote.

Gundy’s brother, Mike Gundy, is the head football coach at cross-state rival Oklahoma State.