A white men’s college tennis player has been suspended after a black opponent tweeted that his on-court rival told him ‘at least I know my dad’ during their weekend match.
John Wilson IV, who attends North Carolina A&T State University – a historically black college – said Spencer Brown, from Appalachian State University, made the comments during Sunday’s NCAA Division I match.
‘Hey #NCAT, this is Spencer brown, a tennis player at Appalachian state,’ he tweeted on Sunday night.
‘During our match today, along with other racist comments, Spencer told me, “At least I know my dad.” Their coach responded by saying, ‘..wAppalachian State University,.’ Black twitter, do ya thing.’
The tweet included a photo of Brown.
Black tennis player John Wilson IV (left) accused white opponent Spencer Brown (right) of racially abusing him as their North Carolina universities played each other during Sunday’s NCAA Division I match
In the match-up between WIlson’s North Carolina A&T State University and Brown’s Appalachian State University, Brown reportedly said: ‘At least I know my dad’
Appalachian State apologized in a statement on Monday morning, calling the conduct ‘derogatory and offensive’. The university said Brown has been suspended indefinitely.
The statement read: ‘After yesterday’s men’s tennis match, an Appalachian State student-athlete engaged in behavior that was derogatory and offensive.
‘This student-athlete has been suspended indefinitely from the team, effective immediately, for violating the student-athlete discipline policy.
‘We have reached out to #NCAT to convey our apologies on behalf of Appalachian Athletics and the university for the conduct of this member of the team.’
Appalachian State apologized in a statement on Monday morning, calling the conduct ‘derogatory and offensive’. The university said Brown has been suspended indefinitely
John Wilson, the black player who is also A&T’s senior class president, said hasn’t heard back from his rival’s university but he was happy to hear about the suspension
John Wilson, the black player who is also A&T’s senior class president, said hasn’t heard back from his rival’s university but he was happy to hear about the suspension.
He tweeted on Monday: ‘Update: Even though I have yet to be reached out personally from the administration of Appalachian State.
‘The athletics program suspended Spencer indefinitely! Thank you all for the help, this is something I’ve always dealt with being a black tennis player. #NCAT.’
A school spokeswoman says there’ll be no additional comment. A recording heard on a call to Appalachian State’s men’s tennis coach said his number was disconnected.