Norfolk St- Horton Game

[BirdGrad2011]

Doug, I believe the NS coach indicated his player told him about the alleged slur. As far as I can tell, there have been zero comments or statements from the officiating crew. I don’t believe the refs called any fouls regarding the slur, and I don’t believe the refs asked ISU athletics officials to remove any fans.

I’d like to know when and why several ISU fans were apparently relocated from their sideline seats to seats in the band area, and subsequently escorted out of the arena. Did the refs tell ISU athletics to bounce those fans? If so, why? Did ISU athletics determine on their own to relocate and remove the fans? Why? Because they were too boisterous? Or did someone other than the NS player hear and report the racial slur?

Someone said it was Paul Kabbe. Not sure if that was the case. But a gentleman told them they had to move. Said it was okay where they went then someone by the scorers table (where more admin were) said they had to leave so the same guy walked over and relayed that.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

Removing tweet:


Now the idiots that weren’t there control the narrative. I hope they’ve all consulted their attorneys.

 

[Hamdonger]

I hope the investigation involves some sort of talk with the referees in question. What did they hear? Why were they not communicating with both coaches? Further, why was Pedon not talking to an official? He has no business going to the other coach, which would have prevented all of this. The officials who worked this game surely should have to answer some sort of questions or we won't ever really know the facts.

I hear ya but were you there? I would remind you that the heat started when NFS head coach began marching across the court. It looked like he was coming after a few fans or one of our players. It absolutely looked like that. I'm sure Ryan took offense. I would have. Then, NFS head coach was corralled back...got back to the sideline, then he is the one who started yelling at Ryan. Then he started walking towards Ryan, Ryan started walking towards him and then Ryan completely flipped his lid, which was unprofessional. I will say it didn't feel like Ryan was challenging him to fight. It felt like Ryan, in the moment, was simply standing up for ISU BOLDLY. I'm a mixed bag on Ryan's reaction. It WAS a bad look, yet I'll tell ya...I kinda liked it, too.

Now, NFS coach MAY have had good reason to do so. But in the heat of the moment, and it got hot quickly...it was confusing and competitive.

 

[SlackBooDom]

Now the idiots that weren’t there control the narrative. I hope they’ve all consulted their attorneys.

Not sure who the one circled is, but recognize the one next to him as someone who owns a business in town that works with African Americans regularly. Something doesn't add up here.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

Not sure who the one circled is, but recognize the one next to him as someone who owns a business in town that works with African Americans regularly. Something doesn't add up here.

The one circled appears to be another prominent person which also doesn’t add up.

 

[SlackBooDom]

I hear ya but were you there? I would remind you that the heat started when NFS head coach began marching across the court. It looked like he was coming after a few fans or one of our players. It absolutely looked like that. I'm sure Ryan took offense. I would have. Then, NFS head coach was corralled back...got back to the sideline, then HE is the one who started yelling at Ryan. Then he started walking towards Ryan, Ryan started walking towards him and then Ryan completely flipped his lid, which was unprofessional. I will say it didn't feel like Ryan was challenging him to fight. It felt like Ryan, in the moment, was simply standing up for ISU BOLDLY. I'm a mixed bag on Ryan's reaction. It WAS a bad look, yet I'll tell ya...I kinda liked it, too.

Now, NFS coach MAY have had good reason to do so. But in the heat of the moment, and it got hot quickly...it was confusing and competitive.

I was there and have watched back. From my amateur lip-reading skill, it looked like Jones was attempting to tell Ryan what happened and when Ryan said he didn't care the response from Jones was a hearty "f*ck you" in Ryan's face that set the whole thing off. If you watch the clip back, it was clear as day that's what was said.

 

[Hamdonger]

I was there and have watched back. From my amateur lip-reading skill, it looked like Jones was attempting to tell Ryan what happened and when Ryan said he didn't care the response from Jones was a hearty "f*ck you" in Ryan's face that set the whole thing off. If you watch the clip back, it was clear as day that's what was said.

Interesting! I was behind the TV guys so thats the first I've heard that part of it. Good scoop, man. The FU would have fired me up, too.

 

[Hamdonger]

Not sure who the one circled is, but recognize the one next to him as someone who owns a business in town that works with African Americans regularly. Something doesn't add up here.

Frankly there's a lot about this that just doesn't add up.

 

[SlackBooDom]

Interesting! I was behind the TV guys so thats the first I've heard that part of it. Good scoop, man. The FU would have fired me up, too.

0:59-1:00 here. Pretty clear to me what was said.

 

[Manchester Matt]

A head coach has no business 1. storming the court at an official 2. marching out of the coaches box toward another coach. His actions were extremely aggressive. If you have an issue like he did, you talk to the official/s, who can then pull both coaches together at center court and discuss said issue under less hostile circumstances.

But he lets his players act the way they did, so I was hardly surprised.

 

[Hamdonger]

This has really been poorly handled by both schools. ISU due to its slow response in issuing a statement and apparent failure to get an immediate statement from people around the incident including those who were escorted out (I hope I am wrong on that). NSU for continuing to pour gasoline on the fire in various ways and for its complete lack of graciousness or in withholding judgment in its last statement.

I hate to say this, but our interim leadership seems to be proving they are not the right people at the helm for the future.

I would somewhat disagree. This is an explosive accusation in today's society, and no matter how ISU reacted, we're in a no-win situation. Unless you were directly involved in the admin conversations regarding this incident, you (and I) don't know the compelling details that we both really want to know.

 

[Hamdonger]

I will say that I can understand NFS head coach deservedly being very upset if he believed (and he clearly did) that one of our fans called one of his players a racial epithet. Emotions got the better of both head coaches in a very heated 60 seconds.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

I will say that I can understand NFS head coach deservedly being very upset if he believed (and he clearly did) that one of our fans called one of his players a racial epithet. Emotions got the better of both head coaches in a very heated 60 seconds.

Exactly. His response afterwards has been very telling though.

 

[Hamdonger]

DEL I don't know where your post went but I COMPLETELY concur and it's what I find most confusing. The official did not act in a way that you would fully expect if he heard a racial slur. I would 100% expect the game to stop IMMEDIATELY, university officials and security called over, and the fan in question is marched out.

I'm not saying the slur didn't happen. I don't know but the official's lack of reaction tells a different story. Excellent point, Del.

 

[Hamdonger]

Not sure who the one circled is, but recognize the one next to him as someone who owns a business in town that works with African Americans regularly. Something doesn't add up here.

This person's Twitter accusation is utterly, completely, and astonishing ridiculous.

 

[Rollbirds5]

DEL I don't know where your post went but I COMPLETELY concur and it's what I find most confusing. The official did not act in a way that you would fully expect if he heard a racial slur. I would 100% expect the game to stop IMMEDIATELY, university officials and security called over, and the fan in question is marched out.

I'm not saying the slur didn't happen. I don't know but the official's lack of reaction tells a different story. Excellent point, Del.

For what it’s worth and may be semantics but when the ref is explaining what happened to the announcers you can hear him say “supposedly it was of racial nature” (around 1:50:30 into game). Just from that line it doesn’t sound like the refs heard it themselves

 

[Hamdonger]

For what it’s worth and may be semantics but when the ref is explaining what happened to the announcers you can hear him say “supposedly it was of racial nature” (around 1:50:30 into game). Just from that line it doesn’t sound like the refs heard it themselves

Interesting.

 

[jwa123]

consulting an attorney to do what?....sue thomas? waste of time

I’m not an attorney but if someone gets accused of something they didn’t say, gets escorted out of the arena and banned then I would think they have had defamation committed against them by the university. On the other hand, just like everyone else here commenting on this situation I have no idea what the hell I’m commenting on.

 

[Phantom]

This whole thing stinks to high Heaven. What I don't like about the statements in the WGLT article is that they were written more definitively, like both sides acknowledge something really was said. Without full, honest statements from everyone within earshot of the alleged incident, including the fans in question, that cannot be confirmed.

Secondly, the initial spat between Pedon & Jones seemed to be a misunderstanding as both coaches were arguing about two separate things. Jones - the alleged slur, and Pedon - gamesmanship about Jones being out of the box and walking on the floor. It was a heated moment in the game anyway, before the context of that moment was fully known. When Pedon said "I dont care", he was NOT talking about the alleged fan incident because he couldn't possibly have known about it at that point. His "I don't care" was likely him thinking Jones was making an excuse for being out of his box. A literal misunderstanding. Knowing coach, there isn't a chance in Hell he says "I don't care" or even engages in an argument if he knew about the fan incident. The refs failed to pull the coaches together, as many others have said. The social media attacks on Pedon are completely undeserved, made largely by people who weren't there and refuse to learn the whole context of the situation. They just think Pedon is trying to brush it off, which is crazy.

The PR by both schools has not been good, IMO. And this will get no decisive conclusion without talking to the refs to know what, if anything, they heard.

 

[Bdub777]

I would somewhat disagree. This is an explosive accusation in today's society, and no matter how ISU reacted, we're in a no-win situation. Unless you were directly involved in the admin conversations regarding this incident, you (and I) don't know the compelling details that we both really want to know.

That’s a fair observation. While I would have preferred we proactively moved faster but there may be reasons we didn’t. The photo development is a weird development (I edited this) but I am going to withhold any further judgement or comment until the investigation is done. I want to stress that I strongly believe all in our administration are very good people doing their best in a bad situation.