My favorite part is the suggestion that Pedon should've or could've "conducted his own investigation" during the game, prior to the confrontation with Coach Jones.
Illinois State Ethics Office concludes investigation into report of racial slur used at game
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Birgs
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I believe most are familiar with the Samuel Clemens quote that applies so aptly to this, and many other "race-bating" issues encountered in our era.
TBus_Birds
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It's a moot point now, but what stuck out to me most throughout the whole process was Jones' initial comments to his local newspaper. He was quoted as saying his player was called a "technical racial slur" – yet by the end of that weekend, he had pinpointed exactly the word that was used.
If you knew what word it was all along, why would you describe it as a "technical" slur in your initial comments? There is nothing technical about it; that word IS a racial slur. Just seems like it started as one thing then morphed into another by the time Jones had more time to think and had more cameras on him. Not to mention adding on the whole "ohhh yeah, it also happened in 2011, too," days later. Huh?
There is no denying Pedon botched things in the moment and in the postgame presser. But clearly, it is reasonable to believe that Pedon was so heated in the moment that he simply wasn't listening to Jones and was going to blow up regardless of what was being said to him. If you expected him to immediately back down and have a perfect response ready to go at halfcourt, sorry, that's not how people operate, especially in that kind of atmosphere. And we now know that Pedon was instructed not to address it in the press conference. No denying in hindsight that both of these instances could have been handled better. However, he did address it at the coaches' show a day or so after. You don't have to like the response, but those involved on ISU's side DID address it. Saying otherwise is being intentionally ignorant to the facts, in my opinion.
End of the day, Dec. 9 is long gone and nothing can change either side's response. Glad to hear ISU conducted a thorough investigation. Ready to move forward and win some games.
If you knew what word it was all along, why would you describe it as a "technical" slur in your initial comments? There is nothing technical about it; that word IS a racial slur. Just seems like it started as one thing then morphed into another by the time Jones had more time to think and had more cameras on him. Not to mention adding on the whole "ohhh yeah, it also happened in 2011, too," days later. Huh?
There is no denying Pedon botched things in the moment and in the postgame presser. But clearly, it is reasonable to believe that Pedon was so heated in the moment that he simply wasn't listening to Jones and was going to blow up regardless of what was being said to him. If you expected him to immediately back down and have a perfect response ready to go at halfcourt, sorry, that's not how people operate, especially in that kind of atmosphere. And we now know that Pedon was instructed not to address it in the press conference. No denying in hindsight that both of these instances could have been handled better. However, he did address it at the coaches' show a day or so after. You don't have to like the response, but those involved on ISU's side DID address it. Saying otherwise is being intentionally ignorant to the facts, in my opinion.
End of the day, Dec. 9 is long gone and nothing can change either side's response. Glad to hear ISU conducted a thorough investigation. Ready to move forward and win some games.
Redbirdwarrior
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Guys, this is central IL. I think all of the people spiking the football right now are maybe not living in the reality that someone did probably drop a racially charged term in that crowd. Whether the investigation found proof of that or not is another thing, but there are good ol boys (and good ol frat boys) that, when losing a game or something, will drop words and phrases they shouldn't.
It is entirely possible the Norfolk State witnesses declined to comment or reply because, guys, this kind of shit happens a lot and sometimes it is better to rise above it and move forward.
For those of you suggesting that ISU should plant a flag in the ground and demand an apology or call out NSU players and coaches for making the stink about it, whether real or fabricated, really think about how that would look from the outside in. Think about the press that gives ISU. Do you think people will read the story about fans and administrators at Illinois State demanding an apology from an HBCU for being accused of racist speech and say "Yeah! How dare they accuse ISU!" or do you think it will say "Wait a second, people are dropping slurs at ISU basketball games?" and possibly lead to further digging in that will put NSU in a spot where they feel the need to tell their story to a greater audience. And if that happens and say the Athletic or ESPN ran with a story about, do you really think that story is going to paint ISU in a good light?
A non-combative, politically correct statement and putting this whole thing behind us is in the best interest of all involved ESPECIALLY with this being an election year and every news outlet looking for fodder to push a racially charged story to get clicks. You do NOT want to be on the wrong side of that battle. It would do decades of harm to the University.
It is entirely possible the Norfolk State witnesses declined to comment or reply because, guys, this kind of shit happens a lot and sometimes it is better to rise above it and move forward.
For those of you suggesting that ISU should plant a flag in the ground and demand an apology or call out NSU players and coaches for making the stink about it, whether real or fabricated, really think about how that would look from the outside in. Think about the press that gives ISU. Do you think people will read the story about fans and administrators at Illinois State demanding an apology from an HBCU for being accused of racist speech and say "Yeah! How dare they accuse ISU!" or do you think it will say "Wait a second, people are dropping slurs at ISU basketball games?" and possibly lead to further digging in that will put NSU in a spot where they feel the need to tell their story to a greater audience. And if that happens and say the Athletic or ESPN ran with a story about, do you really think that story is going to paint ISU in a good light?
A non-combative, politically correct statement and putting this whole thing behind us is in the best interest of all involved ESPECIALLY with this being an election year and every news outlet looking for fodder to push a racially charged story to get clicks. You do NOT want to be on the wrong side of that battle. It would do decades of harm to the University.
Beggs didn't write the statement. Aondover Tarhule wrote it. The investigation was elevated beyond the athletics department to the ethics office.
Hamdonger
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No doubt raciam is alive and well...everywhere...which is extremely unfortunate. But here's the deal. If they didn't say it...they didn't say it.
Let me break down the statement for you. The accused denied saying it. NO ONE other than said player could corroborate the statement. No one. That includes the officials...even the one official that the NFS head coach said would be talking.
Rollbirds5
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TBus_Birds
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Fascinating. So Coach Jones deletes the tweet, throws out the claim that those leading the investigation didn't reach out for 6 weeks (coming from the guy that refuses to talk to Pedon), and NSU effectively disregards our investigation in their statement. Lots of great stuff but not surprising.
TBus_Birds
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Interesting response. Doesn't flat out say "it happened" (though it's very possible these comments were edited and we don't have the full response to the question)
I don't mean to keep dragging this out but seeing as how NSU had its say, it's only fair to shed light on any new info and comments that come out.
So no real reply. A shame 47 witnesses mean nothing
Redbirdwarrior
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Honestly, we no longer live in a society where whether you did something or not is good enough to defend yourself. It is good enough to defend yourself from prosecution, but not persecution. We live in the court of public opinion and as such, you need to see best case and worst case scenarios.
Best case scenario here: ISU and NFS find that the slur did not occur and the coach and/or staff misheard something in a loud arena. 6 weeks passes, everyone forgets this was ever even a topic.
Worst case: ISU asks for a formal apology for the accusation and the coach, still not denying what he claims to have heard, chooses to double down to major news outlets. Those news outlets spin this into clickbait (as major news outlets do). This results in multiple inquiries from officials at both schools and turns into an even larger news story which brands ISU as "potentially racist" at best. The bad press causes applicants to attend other colleges, recruits to pull out of LOIs and brands the coach, the team and the university with a brand we dont want or need.
Taking the high road was the right play here. 6 weeks from now, none of this ever happened and everyone involved is better for it.
Birgs
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- He's just a "chip on my shoulder" blow-hard.
- Pedon's apology(ies) and continued attempts - not good enough.
- Not the 47 whiter, er, um, I mean "right" people weren't on the court.
- Shoulda remembered 11-whatever years ago and not taken the game.
- Feels lie the kind of "leader of men" that even if his player were to admit it was a sham, he would "stand by him" because even if this incident wasn't "real" there's enough racism today that it makes up for the real ones.
Hamdonger
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I pretty much agree, except that we were in a no-win situation from the get-go. An absolute no-win. Which, if accusation was false - and I believe it was, was and is incredibly unfair to Illinois State University.
So goes life - and maybe it's a lesson and reminder to what many of our black brothers and sisters went through in decades past, and maybe still go through. Accusations thrown merely because they committed the sin (ie: SARCASM/SATIRE) of being black.
I had figured, after the amount of time elapsed, we were not going to receive a formal statement on the matter. We got our "statement." Now it's time to put this behind us forever.
Hamdonger
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Perhaps Norfolk State University would accommodate a position on the faculty staff for her? Sounds like she'd be much happier. I wish you well, Brea.
GOP_Redbird
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Robert Jones will not get a Power 5 job after that stunt.
Birgs
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I think he believes Norfolk State is "his UCLA." - Coach Rich era fans hopefully get the reference.
TBS_20
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She was so hoping it was true so she could rally the troops.
I get it. Such an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. That was the beginning of where ISU bb is now.
