Albert Haynesworth calls for boycott of Tennessee football for ‘systematic racism’
Albert Haynesworth is calling for a boycott of the Volunteers football program.
In a post Facebook reacting to the hiring of Josh Heupel, who was named the Vols’ 27th coach on Wednesday, Haynesworth called for Black alumni from the university to join him in boycotting the Vols, citing “systematic racism” as the primary reason.
Haynesworth criticized Tennessee for failing to interview Tee Martin, the Vols’ wide receivers coach and former quarterback, for the opening. Haynesworth signed with the Vols in 1999, just a few months after Martin led Tennessee to its only modern national championship.
“Obviously Tennessee Vols take Tee Martin for granted!” Haynesworth wrote in a post on Facebook. “Why do (expletive) on him, hell he even reduce his salary to help the university out when he didn’t have to? Is it bc he’s black? UT won’t even interview him.”
Haynesworth wrote that he “will not be attending any games or supporting until I see change in the university that I love so much.” He said Tennessee has never paid Black coaches their due diligence, specifically mentioning former Tennessee assistant Kippy Brown, who was a candidate in 2009.
“Majority of your players are African-American why not put a African-American coach to lead them especially the one that won Tennessee a championship? You guys give everyone except a black qualified man a chance!” Haynesworth wrote.
Lady Vols basketball player Kara Lawson called on the university to examine the lack of diversity in its athletics department leadership.
Lawson, who is now coach of the Duke women’s basketball team, has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2018.
Haynesworth isn’t alone advocating for Martin. Peerless Price, who was Tennessee’s leading receiver on the 1998 national championship team, posted on Twitter saying that he had a phone conversation with a distraught Martin.
“Just got off the phone with my Quarterback Tee Martin and to say my guy his hurting is an understatement!” Price wrote. “My brother if my vision was ever clouded I have clear sight on everything you’ve sacrificed for our University. Damn the pain in my brothers voice I’ve never heard before!”
