CLICK HERE for the email that McGill provost Ollivier Dyens sent to all McGill students and staff on Friday
Below is a statement that McGill head coach Clint Uttley made upon his resignation from the program today
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I have resigned as the Head Coach of the McGill Redmen Football team.
The University released a statement on Friday, September 26, 2014 regarding allegations
against an individual from our team.
“A member of the McGill Redmen football team was in Court on Thursday to face
criminal charges. This individual had previously pleaded guilty to an assault charge
arising from a 2010 incident in Quebec City. This individual should not have been
invited to join our team. That was not in accordance with the values of our
community.”
The above statement does not represent my personal morals or values with regards to
sport, recruiting, and life in general. I believe in rehabilitation. The student athlete
accepted his conviction and did his punishment, a fact that was not hidden from the
University. At the time of his arrival, the University tolerated and accepted his presence
and then proceeded to celebrate his accomplishments thereafter.
For McGill University to say now that this individual should not have been allowed on
our team in the first place because of his past, deeply troubles me and in good conscience
I cannot work for an organization that does not embrace equity and inclusiveness. Post-
secondary education should be accessible for all, not just the ones’ who have no known
incidences. How can someone aspire to rehabilitation when the leading institutions of
Quebec and Canada shun those who have made an error in judgment?
I believe that University is exactly the place to shape and mold young adults to reach
their full potential. If this were not the case, I would not be here before you today. If the
football coaches in my life had not provided me with an equal opportunity, I would not
have completed a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, and a Masters of Education in
Inclusive Education. I wanted to give back to those who mentored and influenced me in a
positive way through the use of sport as those who offered their support to me.
If providing young men with a second opportunity has effectively cost me my position as
head football coach at McGill, then I accept that consequence in order to maintain a
higher moral standard then what’s been dictated.
-Clinton J. Uttley
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