Mike Gundy’s T-shirt choice — showing his affinity for a far-right news network — is damaging his relationship with players at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys coach wore a “One America News Network” shirt while fishing last week, and his guide posted a photo of the outing on social media.
The Washington Post classified OAN as “the most fervently pro-Trump cable network” and said the network “offers a concise lesson in creating fake news.” CNN has documented how The White House has helped elevate the station. Gundy, meanwhile, addressed what appeals to him about the station during a tone-deaf rant about the novel coronavirus pandemic in April.
“It’s One America News,” Gundy said, via Yahoo! “It was so refreshing. They just report the news. There’s no commentary. There’s no opinions. There’s no left. There’s no right.”
That couldn’t be further from the truth (The Atlantic profiled the network last month in a story headlined “Trump’s Favorite TV Network Is Post-parody.”)
Gundy’s renewed support for the station months later — now that focus has shifted from COVID-19 to police reform and fighting systemic racism in the wake of the police killing George Floyd — is costing him support from his players.
Running back Chuba Hubbard, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, was the first to speak out against Gundy, saying via Twitter that he would “not be doing anything with Oklahoma State until things CHANGE.”
Linebackers Amen Ogbongbemiga and Devin Harper said they will stand with Hubbard.
Former OSU and current Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill also weighed in with his support.
