UMass Football Coach Suspended for Postgame ‘Rape’ Comment
University of Massachusetts officials announced on Sunday that football coach, Mark Whipple, will be suspended for his postgame comments this past Saturday.
After the Minutemen’s 16 point loss to Ohio, Whipple complained about the officiating of the game. “I’ve been in the SEC, I’ve been in the NFL and I’ve never seen anything so bad: six holds against none until at the end,” Whipple stated. “…We had a chance there with 16 down and they rape us.”
Whipple later apologized in a statement released by the university.
“I am deeply sorry for the word I used on Saturday to describe a play in our game,” he said. “It is unacceptable to make use of the word ‘rape’ in the way I did and I am very sorry for doing so. It represents a lack of responsibility on my part as the leader of this program and a member of this university’s community, and I am disappointed with myself that I made this comparison when commenting after our game.”
Athletic Director, Ryan Bamford, announced on Sunday that Whipple would be suspended without pay from all team activities this week and also undergo mandated sensitivity training.
UMass football head coach Mark Whipple suspended for one week without pay following Ohio postgame comments. DC Ed Pinkham will serve as acting head coach. pic.twitter.com/Gey65Bhe7p
— UMass Athletics (@UMassAthletics) September 30, 2018
UMass football will have a bye week following this Saturday’s game against USF. Whipple will return to the sidelines as head coach after the break.
