Terrell Owens Praises UTC For Firing Coach Over Vile Tweet, 'No Room For Racism'
Terrell Owens Praises UTC For Firing Coach 'No Room For Racism'
UPDATE
9:57 AM PT -- Terrell Owens -- the most famous player in UT Chattanooga football history -- is commending the program for taking swift action against Chris Malone.
UPDATE
"As a proud @UTChattanooga alum, I stand by the decision of Mark Wharton, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics along with my former teammate and our Head Coach, Rusty Wright, to remove OL Coach Chris Malone after his offensive tweet."
UPDATE
TO also shared the program's statements on the matter, adding "#NoRoomForRacism" and "#NoRoomForHate"
A UT Chattanooga football assistant coach has just been fired ... after school officials say he penned an "appalling," "unacceptable," and "totally inappropriate" political post on social media this week.
Chris Malone, the Mocs' now-former offensive line coach, went to his personal Twitter account on Tuesday to fire off a vile tweet over the Georgia runoff elections results.
In the four-sentence statement, Malone took aim at Georgia politician and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams -- who many have credited for helping the democrats flip the Peach State blue.
"Congratulations to the state GA and Fat Albert @staceyabrams because you have truly shown America the true works of cheating in an election, again!!!" Malone said in the tweet.
"Enjoy the buffet Big Girl!! You earned it!!! Hope the money is good, still not governor!"
The tweet -- and Malone's entire social media account -- were eventually taken down ... but school officials still dropped the hammer on the guy, firing him Thursday morning.
"Last night, a totally inappropriate social media post by a member of our football staff was brought to my attention," UTC director of athletics Mark Wharton said. "The entire post was appalling."
"The sentiments in that post do not represent the values of our football program, our athletics department or our university. With that said, effectively immediately, that individual is no longer a part of the program."
Added UTC head coach Rusty Wright, "Our football program has a clear set of standards. Those standards include respecting others. It is a message our players hear daily. It is a standard I will not waiver on."
"What was posted on social media by a member of my staff is unacceptable and not any part of what I stand for or what Chattanooga Football stands for. Life is bigger than football and as leaders of young men, we have to set that example, first and foremost. With that said, effectively immediately, that individual is no longer a part of my staff."
Malone was in the middle of his second stint at UTC before his firing Thursday -- he had previously coached for the Mocs in 2014 and 2015.
Malone worked at Old Dominion in between the two UTC stops from 2016-2018.
Originally published -- 7:24 AM PT
