In a story that has continued to evolve through tweets, former Utah cornerback Ryan Lacy said Thursday that he and his family have received threats following their June 6 accusation that defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley called him the N-word. in a practice before 2013.
In a tweet last month, Lacy accused Scalley of the racist comment after Utah officials learned that Scalley sent a racial slur to a recruit in a 2013 text message to another assistant coach. He denied calling Lacy the N-word, although he admitted he sent the text message, a move that spurred a three-week external investigation into his behavior and this week cost him a dramatic pay cut and the head coach – Waiting for the title.
On Thursday, a day after Scalley was reinstated as a defensive coordinator and issued an emotional apology, Lacy tweeted that he received threats from his family, tagging Utah’s official Twitter account as he wrote, “I’m sick about this! My mother has Fear after his address was exposed. There were no phone calls, he didn’t mind, but he had enough time to rewrite a contract for a coach who evidently demonstrated misconduct. “
In response, the University of Utah tweeted, “The threats made to @SpotlightLacy alum are disgusting. The University does not tolerate such actions.”
The school also stated: “While we know that the vast majority of the #UofU community treats each other with respect and dignity, there are some outliers that do not share that spirit. We condemn their racist words and actions in the strongest possible way.” .
Utah Sports Director Mark Harlan tweeted that he “strongly supports” the university’s statement on the threats to Lacy.
A school spokesman said there would be no further comment.
On June 7, Utah hired Kansas City law firm Husch Blackwell to investigate whether Scalley’s text message was an isolated incident or part of a broader pattern of racially offensive comments or conduct. Later that day, Lacy tweeted, “I am receiving threats now … I will not regret telling the truth.”
While the investigative report did not use Lacy’s name, it did include his indictment and concluded that no other player or coach “could substantiate this allegation.” In a letter released Wednesday by Harlan and coach Kyle Whittingham, they determined that although Scalley will remain on the staff, “the seriousness of his actions” warranted changes to his contract. In December 2019, Scalley agreed to a multi-year extension, increasing his annual compensation to $ 1.1 million. Your new contract will return to its 2018 compensation level in the form of a one-year term of $ 525,000.
In Harlan’s opening statement on Wednesday afternoon, he thanked the more than 35 current and former players who participated in the investigation.
“His words, his participation meant a lot to this department,” he said. “We are always grateful that they are part of this.”
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