OMAHA, Nebraska – Five Creighton men’s basketball players explained in a short video on Saturday why they were hurt by coach Greg McDermott’s remarks in his locker room talks following a loss last weekend.
A sixth player who did not speak in the video, star guard Marcus Zegarowski, said after Saturday’s 93-73 victory over Butler that, although McDermott made a mistake with the choice of words, he loves and supports all his players. .
McDermott twice used the term “plantation” as part of his comments calling for team unity. The university suspended McDermott indefinitely on Thursday, after training in a loss on Wednesday at Villanova. Assistant coach Alan Huss was the interim head coach for the Butler game.
“I need everyone to stay on the plantation. I can’t leave anyone on the plantation,” McDermott told players after a loss to Xavier on Feb. 27, using a term that evokes slavery and the pre-war south.
Creighton players did not comment publicly on McDermott’s remarks until five black players spoke in the preliminary video at CHI Health Center Arena.
“James Baldwin said that not everything he faces can be changed, but nothing can be changed without being confronted,” Bluejays striker Christian Bishop said at the outset.
Then Guardian Shereef Mitchell said: “For slaves, life on a plantation was full of mental, emotional, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. You were property and not man. Slaves had no rights and no voice. They were branded as cattle, forced from their homeland and detached from culture, language and fundamental human rights. They worked 18 hours a day, six days a week. Any sign of wrongdoing, such as lack of productivity, failure to follow instructions, or resistance would lead to beatings or death, and that is why … “
“What Coach Mac said hurt me and my teammates,” goalkeeper Denzel Mahoney said.
Then guard Antwann Jones said: “People talk about inequality and equality, but they don’t really know what it means to be equal. And I feel that this is the beginning of a new conversation that will take place in the future. Let’s continue to educate each other and continue to grow. “
Before, Damien Jefferson said, “If I were your son, would it matter then? Let’s not be OK with racism. Let’s start the conversation.”
The video ended in silence, with all Creighton players locked arm in arm on the field.
Later, “Raise every voice and sing”, also known as the black anthem, was sung.
None of the teams were on the field for the national anthem.
Zegarowski, unhappy, praised McDermott for the impact he has had on him since he arrived on campus and that the coach’s locker room remarks should not define him.
“A lot of guys in the locker room were suffering because of that, and I was hurting because of what he said,” Zegarowski said. “At the same time, Coach Mac was a huge mentor to me and I know he would take a bullet for me and everyone in that locker room, including the coaching staff.
“I know he made a very serious mistake with what he said. I just know everything he did for me as a player, but more importantly as a human being. He loves me; he loves everyone in that locker room. This is my coach. “I like that guy. People make mistakes and this is my guy.”
McDermott apologized publicly on Tuesday and again on Wednesday.
Creighton Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen said additional sanctions are being considered, none of which will be made public.