Gundy's T-Shirt Style: What's His Secret?

In 2020, Oklahoma State University football coach Mike Gundy was involved in a controversy surrounding a t-shirt he wore, which sparked outrage among his players and the public. The t-shirt in question represented the One America News Network (OAN), a far-right-wing cable channel known for its pro-Donald Trump stance and criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement. This incident led to a public apology from Gundy and brought attention to the impact of political statements made by influential individuals.

Mike Gundy's OAN T-shirt

In June 2020, Oklahoma State University football coach Mike Gundy issued an apology after wearing a t-shirt representing the far-right One America News Network (OAN). The incident caused outrage among his players, with star running back Chuba Hubbard threatening to boycott the program until changes were made.

Gundy, who was photographed wearing the OAN t-shirt on a fishing trip with his sons, initially responded to the backlash by calling himself a "dumbass" and empathizing with his players. He claimed he was unaware of the network's stances, saying, "I didn't know. I didn't know until the next day. Well, I knew that night, but I didn't confirm it until I did a little research, and I was like, 'What a dumbass.' So, that was my fault."

Hubbard, who is Black, was particularly vocal in his criticism of Gundy's choice of clothing. He took to Twitter, writing, "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." Hubbard's tweet garnered significant attention, with both current and former players expressing their support.

Facing mounting pressure, Gundy issued a formal apology on Tuesday, June 16. In a one-minute statement, he said, "Once I learned how that network (OAN) felt about Black Lives Matter, I was disgusted and knew it was completely unacceptable to me. I want to apologize to all members of our team, former players, and their families for the pain and discomfort that has been caused over the last two days. Black lives matter to me. Our players matter to me."

Gundy's apology was generally well-received, with Hubbard calling it "a step in the right direction." However, some criticized the timing of the apology, noting that Gundy had only apologized after facing significant backlash.

Oklahoma State University's response

Oklahoma State University has not commented on the issue regarding contractor Brent Loveland suing head football coach Mike Gundy for breach of contract. Loveland claims he was fired for wearing a University of Oklahoma T-shirt while working on Gundy's Stillwater home.

However, in 2020, Gundy did issue a public apology after facing backlash for wearing a T-shirt representing the far-right, pro-Donald Trump One America News Network (OAN). In a video posted to Twitter, Gundy said:

> "I want to apologize to all members of our team, former players, and their families for the pain and discomfort that has been caused over the last two days. Black lives matter to me. Our players matter to me."

Gundy's apology came after Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard threatened to boycott the program until changes were made. Several of Hubbard's teammates also echoed his initial remarks.

Hubbard later published a statement on Twitter, saying:

> "I was never wrong for saying what I said. I am a man, and I realized I should have gone to him as a man face to face rather than on Twitter... But I had to hold him accountable either way."

Chuba Hubbard's boycott

In June 2020, Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Chuba Hubbard threatened to boycott the football team and any affiliation with the university after a photo surfaced of head coach Mike Gundy wearing a t-shirt promoting the far-right One America News Network (OAN).

Hubbard, a native Canadian, took to Twitter to express his frustration with Gundy's choice of clothing, stating that it was "insensitive to everything going on in society". He also added that he "will not be doing anything with Oklahoma State until things CHANGE". Several teammates supported Hubbard, implying that they too would refrain from team activities until change happened.

In response to the backlash, Gundy issued an apology, saying he was disgusted by OAN's coverage of the Black Lives Matter movement. He also acknowledged that he had not been aware of the network's political leanings when he wore the shirt. Hubbard eventually apologised for the way he handled the situation, and the pair appeared in a video together making amends. However, Gundy did not apologise, and instead referred to the situation as a "sensitive" one.

Hubbard's boycott threat highlighted the power dynamics in college football and raised questions about the ability of players to affect the behaviours of their coaches. It also brought attention to Gundy's history of controversial political statements, including referring to COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus" and arguing that his players should return to school as they were young and healthy enough to fight the virus.

Mike Gundy sued by contractor

In 2011, Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy and his wife, Kristen, were sued by contractor Brent Loveland, who claimed he was fired from a job at their home for wearing an Oklahoma Sooners shirt. Loveland, who is based in Oklahoma City, sought damages in excess of $10,000 for breach of contract, claiming he lost more than $30,000 in income from an expected 13 weeks of work.

On March 21, 2011, Loveland arrived at the Gundy residence in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to work on trim work and, potentially, additional work in the basement. He had woken up early, around 4 a.m., and dressed in the dark, grabbing a grey "Oklahoma Baseball" T-shirt with the university's name in red block letters. After working for less than three hours, Gundy and his wife arrived home. Gundy immediately confronted Loveland about the shirt, saying, "How dare you come into my house and offend my wife [...] that f---ing shirt you have on."

Loveland claims that Gundy continued to use profanity, calling him a "stupid idiot" for wearing the shirt on "OSU soil." He also alleges that Gundy refused to accept his apology and told him to "pack his s--t and get off Mike's property." Loveland described Gundy's outburst as "a tirade by Mike of epic proportions."

In response to the lawsuit, Gundy's attorney, Willie Baker, denied the allegations: "While I cannot discuss the specifics of pending litigation, I deny the allegations being made and welcome the opportunity to fully resolve the matter."

A Payne County judge initially dismissed the lawsuit, but the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals later overturned part of the dismissal, upholding the dismissal of the breach of contract and emotional distress claims. The appeals court ordered that Loveland's claim for $80,600 be sent back to court for further proceedings.

Mike Gundy's apology

In 2020, Oklahoma State University's head football coach, Mike Gundy, was publicly criticized and reviewed for wearing a T-shirt from One America News. While the specifics of the T-shirt in question are unclear, the incident sparked controversy and led to a $1 million pay cut for Gundy, reducing his salary from $5 million to $4 million.

In response to the backlash, Gundy issued an apology, recognizing the impact of his actions and taking responsibility for his choices. Here is an imagined version of what his apology might have looked like:

"I want to start by saying that I am deeply sorry for any harm or offense that my choice of clothing may have caused. In hindsight, I recognize that wearing the One America News shirt was a mistake, and I take full responsibility for my actions. As a representative of Oklahoma State University, I understand that my choices reflect not only on myself but also on the entire university community.

My intention was never to cause any upset or offend anyone. Still, I now understand the impact of my actions and the potential damage they can cause. I want to apologize directly to those who were hurt or offended by my choice of clothing. Your feelings and experiences are valid, and I am truly sorry.

Moving forward, I am committed to learning from this mistake and being more mindful of my choices. I will work to ensure that my actions reflect the values of this university and promote an inclusive and respectful environment for all. I hope that we can come together and move past this incident, focusing on creating a positive and welcoming community at Oklahoma State University."

While this is an imagined account, it captures the tone and content of an apology that addresses the situation directly, expresses remorse, and demonstrates a commitment to personal growth and improvement.

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