When you have Republicans, Democrats, the University of Georgia, the president of the Clarke County NAACP and a host of others condemning your remarks, would it be wise for Athens-Clark County Commissioner Melissa Link, a Democrat, to apologize for claiming that UGA football players are rapists and murderers? That’s the question her critics are asking.
Link made the charge during a Commission budget hearing about a proposed Youth Police Cadet Corps and the recruitment of ex-UGA athletes to fill vacant positions in the police department. “I think all the football players got drafted,” Commissioner Mike Hamby quipped. “A lot of them are out there raping and murdering,” Link shot back.
State Rep. Houston Gaines, R-Athens, was quick to ask for public condemnation of what he labelled “defamatory, outrageous remarks.” A chorus of demands for Link to recant soon emerged.
“In our beloved nation you are innocent until proven guilty. It is incumbent on all of us, including our elected officials, to remember and cherish this foundational principle,” Clarke County NAACP Alvin Sheats says. “Commissioner Link was out of order making that intemperate and outrageous statement about UGA football players. She should be ashamed and is duty bound to retract that statement and apologize to these young men and all of our residents. Should she refuse to do so, the Mayor and Commission publicly and as a collective body should condemn her remarks clearly and forthrightly. Commissioner Link and all elected leaders must set the highest standards for justice and fairness and avoid any hint of promoting bias.”
UGA Athletic Director Josh Brooks—who has worked at UGA for 11 years– was especially, and understandably, outraged. His reaction has been underreported in Georgia media. The following are excerpts:
“I want to highlight significant undisputed facts. During my time here, I have seen more than 1,000 student-athletes graduate from UGA with an average of 94-96% post-graduation placement in professional schools, internships, full-time positions, or professional sports. Within football specifically, Georgia leads the country in the number of National Football Foundation Post-Graduate Scholars, Academic All-Americans, and NCAA Post-Graduate Scholars.
“The fact is, most of our student-athletes excel in all aspects of life, and while that does not excuse any instances of wrongdoing, it certainly underscores the fact that those transgressions tend to be the exception — not the rule. The insinuation that a disproportionate number of our athletes are committing violent crimes is not only grossly inaccurate, but also woefully inappropriate and reckless. The idea that an overgeneralized, hurtful, and inaccurate statement should be accepted because it was in response to sarcastic quip about players drafted in a small room, is distasteful and careless. Misinformation and divisive rhetoric made public in any way is irresponsible, particularly coming from an elected official, as it provides a spark that can and has spread quickly.
“UGA Athletics and our student-athletes have done tremendous work in the Athens-Clarke community. One example is our Dawgs For Pups program, which raises money for various initiatives for school-age children and special causes in the community. This active program was started and spearheaded by our football student-athletes and serves as a model program for our department. It is important to note that we, as a department, are committed to inclusion, integrity, and innovation in helping our student-athletes succeed in the classroom, in competition, and in life. Their parents entrust us with their children when they choose to attend UGA, and we take pride and joy in that trust. In my role as athletic director, I could not allow such a hurtful, overgeneralized, and irresponsible statement to go unchecked. I am a public servant, and negative, divisive, and uniformed comments do nothing to advance or enrich the lives of the students that our staff has the privilege of serving.”
