The white baseball director of a Georgia college is under fire after allegedly telling a black player he couldn’t play on the team because his hair was too long and didn’t fit the rules set by the coach.
Valdosta State University baseball head coach Greg Guilliams was secretly recorded by former player Asher Akridge during a meeting in the coach’s office, where Akridge questioned Guilliams’ reasoning for kicking him off the team based on length. of her hair.
In a video posted to TikTok by Akridge captioned “Valdosta State University 2023 or 1945,” a player tells the coach that he was always respectful and always complied with the strict hair policy.
“If you complied with what I told you, you would cut your hair and I would not have to keep telling you about it,” said the coach, alluding that there were multiple occasions when he told the player to cut his long hair. .
Although neither individual is identified in the video, a source told WALB they were Alkridge and Guilliams.
Guilliams, 61, later takes some of the blame for failing to give Akridge, 21, clear instructions on how to wear his hair on the baseball team, but still remained adamant that he was right to expel the college student. of the team.
Valdosta State University baseball head coach Greg Guilliams kicked a player off the team because his hair was too long, the former player claimed. Facebook / Data Coach
“To be fair to you, this is where I failed, what I should have done from the start and didn’t, this is my fault and I could see how I gave you the wrong impression so I’m not totally blaming you because it takes two to everything,” Guilliams says, according to the clip.
“What I should have said from the beginning was ‘this is what you have to do with your hair and then once you do it, I’ll let you out’ and I didn’t do that.”
Akridge was first drafted by FIU in 2019, played for Jacksonville State University for his freshman season in 2022 before transferring to Valdosta State.
He attempted to point out “discrepancies” in Guilliams’ policy, as other players also had long hair and were not sent off from the team, but was quickly rebuffed by the manager.
“We’re not talking about other guys, I told you earlier on the phone, we’re not going down that path, why would I go down this path again?” Williams asked.
Asher Akridge was recorded talking to the coach about the length of his hair and why it was too long for the team. JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
“I don’t care what the others say, this is between you and me, I’m the head coach, it doesn’t matter what any other player says.
“Then again, why would I want you back on the team when we’re having the same conversation again?”
“My hair is short, I don’t know why we’re having this conversation,” Akridge says before the coach tells him it’s not short enough for the team.
“How is that possible?” Akridge asked, and Guilliams said that they are his rules and he can make them however he wants.
“I’m the one who makes the rules, I can make whatever rules I want,” Guilliams said.
Warning: strong language
“I want to be treated like everyone else, what do you mean?” Akridge said as his voice began to crack with emotion.
“If you want to be treated like everyone else, follow the rules I give you,” the coach said. “Talk over, the boars couldn’t let me put you back on this baseball team. There’s no way, it won’t happen. This conversation is over. I said it on the phone.”
At the end of the video, Akridge shared a photo of himself in a car with his hair just below his ears, followed by a white mug for Valdosta whose hair appears to fall past her neck.
At the end of the video, Akridge shared a photo of himself in a car with his hair just below his ears, followed by a white mug for Valdosta whose hair appears to fall past her neck. TikTok / Asherthegreat24
Valdosta State, an NCAA Division II public school, issued a statement after the video went viral saying it is looking into the matter and will make personnel changes if a violation occurs. Valdosta State University Athletics
The TikTok video, which has been viewed more than 464,000 times in three days.
Valdosta State, an NCAA Division II public school, issued a statement after the video went viral saying it is looking into the matter and will make personnel changes if a violation occurs.
“In accordance with Valdosta State University’s Non-Discrimination Policy, the university is committed to maintaining a fair, respectful and non-discriminatory environment for all,” the school said.
“The VSU Office of Human Resources is conducting a thorough investigation into the current matter and will address any staff actions deemed to be in violation of university policy if the investigation reveals anything. We are moving through the required due process procedures,” the school said, according to WALB.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn