Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops proud of Sooners' response to racist video
Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops said he was proud of the way the Sooners have responded to a racist OU fraternity video,
Speaking to ESPN.com, Stoops also supported his players' actions directed toward effecting change. Stoops has joined Oklahoma's players in silent protest and endorsed their decision to wear black equipment during spring practice.
• Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh: I'm not worth $5 million salary
"This was caught here," Stoops said Tuesday in an interview with ESPN. "I think [OU's players] realize it's everywhere. It's around the country. We happen to have it; let's try to do something with it and try to effect change. And I'm proud of the way they've done it.
"It doesn't matter if it's fair or unfair," he said. "Maybe it was brought to us -- I'm a really faithful person -- maybe we're the ones that could handle it the right way. We have a great president who acted very swiftly and strongly, that he's not going to stand for it on our campus. Our players, us as coaches and our community here, our student body got behind our players that we're not going to stand for it here.
After the video surfaced earlier this month, Oklahoma canceled spring football practice during the week of March 9. OU president David Boren banned the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity from campus and also expelled several of its members.
"There's no coaching manual for this," Stoops said. "It's a life issue more than anything when you're dealing with racism anywhere. ... It's a life issue -- bigger than sports, bigger than football."
Oklahoma also released a statement on behalf of its football players shortly after the video drew national attention.
The Sooners' spring game is April 11, and the team will open the season Sept. 5 against Akron.
- Mike Fiammetta
