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UT-Chattanooga fired Chris Malone – the team’s offensive line coach for the past two seasons – after he tweeted, then deleted, a statement in which he referred to Georgia voting rights activist Stacey Abrams as ‘Fat Albert’ and ‘Big Girl.’ It’s clear that his tweet was in response to the US Senate elections.
“Congratulations to the state GA and Fat Albert @staceyabrams because you have truly shown America the true works of cheating in an election, again!!!” Malone’s tweet read. “Enjoy the buffet Big Girl! You earned it!!! Hope the money was good, still not governor!”
Abrams was a Georgia state assembly member for a decade and became minority leader before running for governor in 2018 as the first black woman to become a major party nominee for governor. She lost to Brian Kemp in the election sparking claims of voter suppression.
Malone shared the tweet on January 5 and on the morning of January 7 Chattanooga released a statement from head coach Rusty Wright and Athletic Director Mark Wharton. Wright called Malone’s conduct “unacceptable and not any part of what I stand for or what Chattanooga Football stands for.”
Statements below from head coach Rusty Wright and Director of Athletics Mark Wharton. pic.twitter.com/qRbQgbrvi3
— Chattanooga Football (@GoMocsFB) January 7, 2021
The university’s chancellor, Steven Angle, also shared a video on Thursday calling the tweet “hateful, hurtful, and untrue” while explaining that Malone was no longer a part of the university.
Chancellor Angle Remarks on Former Mocs Football Assistant Coach pic.twitter.com/8n5vvLYZa2
— The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (@UTChattanooga) January 7, 2021
As a proud Chattanooga alum, I am glad to see the university take this matter seriously and take appropriate action after such a ridiculous, moronic tweet.
The Mocs played just one football game during the 2020 season due to the pandemic, a 13-10 loss at Western Kentucky.