When Tenn DB Rashaan Gaulden gave the double bird to heckling Bama fans, Herbie didn’t mince his words.
SB Nation quotes what he said at the time.
“That’s why Tennessee has issues. They don’t have any discipline. He should have taken his uniform off, sent him upstairs and said, ‘Get some popcorn, because you’re no longer on the team’ and sent a message to the whole team.”
Weeks lately after Baker Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy, Herbie had to say this.
My man @baker_mayfield6 is VERY misunderstood! His competitive spirit is special and sure, sometimes has gotten the best of him. But, he is a good man that is driven to be the best. Congrats Baker!
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 10, 2017
I took a look into Rashaan Gaulden and besides flipping the bird, nothing in his past suggests he is nothing but a good guy that let his frustrations get the best of him and made a mistake.
Mayfield on the other hand has been involved in several questionable incidents on and off the field.
He’s was arrested for being drunk and running from cops, was disrespectful in planting a flag on Ohio State’s field, said he would spank Baylor’s players, hit a TCU player intentionally in the head with a football and of course there was the crotch grab.
If you didn’t know the names of the players and just looked at the actions, if anyone should have been thrown off a team it would be Mayfield. Gaulden rightfully called out Herbie.
https://twitter.com/Gmoney_7era/status/939730812253163521
I don’t think Kirk Herbstreit is racist, what I do think is white men carry stereotypes and preconceived notions about black people. When other white men do wrong, especially young white men, they are called kids, when a young black man does something he needs to be kicked off the team and treated like an adult.
This is a big societal issue and something that Tyrod Taylor spoke about. Black men have very little margin for error, while white men’s margin for error is so big they can become the President or in this case win the Heisman Trophy.
It takes a big person to apologize and I believe that Herbie meant it, I just wish he would have addressed the racial undertones of his comment.
Flip the page for Herbie’s apology….