2021 Creighton Suspended Coach Greg McDermott Over Plantation Talk: What Was It All About

On the day of the N.C.A.A. tournament, Creighton men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott has been banned after admitting to telling his players in a postgame speech that they needed to “stay on the plantation.”

2021 Creighton Suspended Greg McDermott Over Plantation Talk: What Was It All About

McDermott acknowledged making the remarks in the locker room following the 14th-ranked Bluejays’ 77-69 defeat at Xavier. According to his own account, McDermott instructed his team to keep close. Both feet must be planted. Everyone must remain on the plantation. I am not allowed to let anyone leave the plantation.

The university revealed the ban on Thursday after the Bluejays’ 72-60 loss to No. 10 Villanova, when he was the coach. That evening, McDermott acknowledged making “an horrible mistake” in his fictitious postgame press conference but chose not to address the controversial comments he made.

His remarks, which would be deemed offensive on their own, were made at a time when racial animosity in the United States was at an all-time high. In the previous year, the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery—the first two at the hands of police—had provoked rallies and marches across the nation against institutional racism, racial injustice, and police brutality.

The word “plantation” conjures up thoughts of the antebellum South, when African servitude was still pervasive. Because of this, the university momentarily suspended McDermott, who has since apologised for his remarks.

Greg McDermott ‘plantation’ comments timeline

Feb. 27, 2021

Xavier defeats Creighton 77-69, snapping the Bluejays’ four-game winning run. McDermott addresses his squad after the game in an effort to inspire his teammates.

“Guys, we got to stick together,” McDermott says. “We need both feet in. I need everybody to stay on the plantation. I can’t have anybody leave the plantation.”

March 2, 2021

In a statement, McDermott apologises for and clarifies the remarks he made after the team’s defeat by Xavier. The complete remarks he gave to his squad are included in his message, which was sent over Twitter.

Creighton also issues a statement.

“While an apology is a start, and while we believe this was out of character for Coach McDermott, in no way does it diminish the fact that his remark was hurtful to many and has absolutely no place in the Creighton community,” Creighton says. “We have offered our full and unconditional support to those affected by his words.”

March 3, 2021

The Bluejays are coached by McDermott as they fall to No. 10 Villanova 72-60. He admits that he offered to quit in response to his comments, but his teammates turned him down.

“If they would have chosen to have me walk away, I would have walked away,” McDermott says in a pregame interview with Bellevue, Neb., radio station KOZN (via the World-Herald). “But that is not what they wanted.”

Creighton athletic director Bruce Rasmussen announces an indefinite suspension of McDermott. In his statement, Rasmussen says it will include the regular-season home finale vs. Butler on March 6. Assistant Al Huss will serve as interim coach.

March 6, 2021

The regular season of Creighton will come to an end with a home game against Butler at the CHI Health Center. Five Black players who had previously refrained from discussing McDermott’s remarks in public spoke out against racism in a pregame video before the Bluejays’ 93-73 victory.

James Baldwin said not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed without being faced,’ Christian Bishop said at the start.

Shereef Mitchell then said, ‘For slaves, life on a plantation was filled with mental, emotional, physical, psychological and sexual abuse. You were owned as property and not human. Slaves had no rights and no voice. They were branded like cattle, forced from their homeland and stripped of their culture, language and basic human rights. They worked 18 hours a day six days a week. Any sign of wrongdoing such as lack of productivity, not following instructions or resistance would result in beatings or death and that is why…’

‘What Coach Mac said hurt me and my teammates,’ Denzel Mahoney said.

Antwaan Jones then said, ‘People speak about inequalities and equalities but don’t truly know what it means to be equal. And I feel like this is the start for a new conversation to be had in the future. Let’s continue to educate each other and let’s continue to grow.’

Damien Jefferson said, ‘If I was your son, would it matter then? Let’s not be OK with racism. Let’s start the conversation.’

Following the game, Marcus Zegarowski — who did not speak in the video — offers unprompted praise for McDermott while acknowledging the hurtfulness of his comments.

“A lot of guys in that locker room were hurting from it, and I was hurting from what he said,” Zegarowski says (via the Post). “At the same time, coach Mac has been a huge mentor for me and I know he would take a bullet for me and everybody in that locker room, including the coaching staff.

“I know he made a really bad mistake with what he said. Only I know everything he’s done for me as a player, but more important as a human being. He loves me, he loves everybody in that locker room. That’s my coach, I love that dude. People make mistakes, and that’s my guy.”

Rasmussen announces McDermott’s reinstatement from suspension after one game. He returns to full team activities in time for the team’s Big East and NCAA tournaments.

“Through his immediate apology, ownership of his actions, difficult dialogue with his team, and more, Coach McDermott has demonstrated a commitment to grow,” Rasmussen says in a statement. “I believe his apology, his commitment to grow from this, to learn, and to regain the trust of his student-athletes and others impacted by his words.

“From our conversations, he understands that forgiveness must be earned, and he is willing to work for it. His actions during his career reveal an individual committed to his team and his community.”

McDermott also issues a statement:

“I am grateful for the opportunity to return to all team activities and rejoin our incredible student athletes, coaches and staff,” he says in a tweet. “I fully understand and recognize that this does not mark the end, but rather the beginning of my work in learning, growing and earning back the trust of those that I have hurt. I am committed to doing better.”

 

March 28, 2021

After an 83-65 defeat to Gonzaga in the Sweet 16, Creighton’s 2020–21 campaign comes to an end.

April 1, 2021

Bishop accesses the NCAA transfer portal after speaking in the March 8 pregame video. With Creighton’s Sweet 16 squad, he had averages of 11 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Finally, he commits to Texas.

April 14, 2021

“It was definitely the controversy,” Washington says. “I really wanted to attend Creighton. It felt like the situation and the plan Coach McDermott had for me was really good. So it was kind of heartbreaking once I found out what he said.

“I just felt like the day and age we’re living in — a police officer just killed another young Black man for no reason — him saying something like that, it’s just not right.”

June 1, 2021

Jones joins the transfer portal; he also talked in the Butler pregame video. In 30 games for Creighton in 2020–2021, he had an average of 3.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. Finally, he commits to Louisiana.

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