Oklahoma State RB Chuba Hubbard says he had to hold coach Mike Gundy accountable
STILLWATER, Okla. — A day after saying he would no longer participate in Oklahoma State activities in protest, Cowboys star Chuba Hubbard said he had to hold head coach Mike Gundy accountable.
Hubbard posted a message on his Twitter page Tuesday morning explaining his Monday tweet in response to a photo of Gundy during a fishing trip wearing a T-shirt of One America News Network — a far-right, pro-Donald Trump cable news network rated by Media Bias/Fact Check as being "not a credible news source."
“I had to hold him accountable either way,” Hubbard wrote. “I am glad things happened the way they did because things are being changed as we speak!”
Hubbard also said he realizes he has the ability to bring change.
“I spoke out because I am emotionally drained and I’m tired of seeing stuff happening without results or consequences,” he wrote. “I realize I have a platform to generate change and I am trying my best to use it accordingly.”
Hubbard opened Monday by saying he would no longer participate but closed the day with a 51-second video alongside Gundy. Hubbard apologized for not approaching Gundy personally. Gundy did not apologize, but said changes were coming.
Gundy was open in April about his support of OANN, a network founded in 2013 that is known to push conspiracy theories.
“I tell you what's funny is, I was flipping through stations. I found one — I don't even know if anybody knows about this — it's called OAN,” Gundy said in April. “It's One America News. And it was so refreshing. They just report the news. There's no commentary. There's no opinions on this. There's no left. There's no right. They just reported the news.
“And I've been watching them the last week, because they've given us the news and given us more information — in my opinion — some of the positives are coming out. So, that was refreshing.”
Several current and former players tweeted support to Hubbard throughout the day.
Here is Hubbard’s complete statement on Tuesday:
“I just want to say thank you to everyone for the support. I will start by saying this; I was never wrong for saying what I said. I am a man, and I realized I should have went to him as a man face to face rather than on twitter. That’s my opinion. But I had to hold him accountable either way. I am glad things happened the way they did because things are being changed as we speak!
“If anyone truly knows me, they know I am a very passionate person. I care about my family, friends, teammates, and people I don’t even know. I spoke out because I am emotionally drained and I’m tired of seeing stuff happening without results or consequences. I realize I have a platform to generate change and I am trying my best to use it accordingly.
“I am a young black man that wants change. I want change that will bring a better experience for my black brothers and sisters at Oklahoma State. It’s that simple. Over these next few months I have left at Oklahoma State, I will be working EVERYDAY to bring change to this organization and to the world. I will be supported by my teammates along with people within the organization.
“To everyone else, trust me when I say that good will come from this.
“Chuba”
