Opinion: Free speech for New Mexico State assistant doesn't mean freedom from consequences
Let’s make this clear: Tyler Wright can say whatever he wants, the baseline beauty of our perfectly imperfect country.
Tyler Wright can also be fired for saying whatever he wants.
New Mexico State’s offensive coordinator, Wright was not with the Aggies on Saturday for their rivalry game against New Mexico after the Las Cruces Sun-News reported Wright has more than 150 posts on his X account from more than 10 years ago that contain derogatory language about African-Americans, Africans, Hispanics and others.
NMSU officials say Wright won’t be with the team while the university investigates the posts.
Before we go further, this isn’t about cancel culture. Or mistakes of a young man who has moved forward in life, or everyone deserves a second chance, or what’s in someone’s heart. Or any other excuse of convenience.
This is about stupidity.
We all make decisions, no matter the age, no matter their impact. We are all responsible for the consequences of those decisions.
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I know this is difficult for some to understand, but making dumb decisions – in this case, offensive remarks on social media, the world’s largest town square – will likely result in adverse reactions.
It wasn't that long ago when Michigan assistant director of recruiting Glenn Schembechler – son of legendary coach Bo Schembechler – resigned after racist and insensitive posts were found on his social media.
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Look, I’m no constitutional scholar, but I’m pretty sure there’s nothing in that glorious document that declares protection from stupidity. Or accountability. Or responsibility.
A job is not a right. A job at a public university, where funds from taxpayers support the institution of higher learning, is most certainly not a right. It’s a privilege.
And with that privilege comes expectations, be they from the university, the athletic department or the head coach.
So if brand new NMSU president Valerio Ferme – hired all of nine days ago – decides Wright’s posts are problematic, he can decide that Wright must deal with the consequences of those posts in accordance with the expectations of the job.
I don’t like getting all technical, but if I don’t – if right and wrong are not clearly explained from the jump – political nonsense enters the fray. Then all those empty calories become the focal point.
Instead of the initial stupid decision ― repeated more than 100 times.
Make no mistake, Ferme can decide Wright will stay with the program. He can say Wright has changed, and he knows his heart and everyone deserves a second chance.
And I’m fine with that. Because Ferme will then have to deal with the consequences of that decision. So will coach Tony Sanchez, who’ll have to deal with any possible fallout in the locker room.
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In these highly volatile moments, it’s best to eliminate emotion and focus on facts.
Wright made a stupid decision 13 years ago, and then repeated it over and over from 2011-14. It wasn’t a one-off mistake or flippant remark. It’s a sustained track record until he began his coaching career as a football intern in 2015.
The posts, as of early Saturday afternoon, haven’t been deleted. Frankly, they don’t have to be deleted.
Because Tyler Wright can say whatever he wants.
He can also be fired for saying anything he wants.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Mexico State assistant Tyler Wright faces cost for racist remarks
