Florida State’s Defensive Player Marvin Wilson Disputes Head Coach’s Claim That He Reached Out To Team About George Floyd’s Death: Me & My Teammates As A Whole Are Outraged

Florida State’s Defensive Player Marvin Wilson Disputes Head Coach’s Claim That He Reached Out To Team About George Floyd’s Death: Me & My Teammates As A Whole Are Outraged

Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, who is widely regarded as a first-round prospect in the 2021 NFL draft, took to his Twitter to address Florida States’s head coach  Mike Norvell, on Wednesday night (June 3rd), after Norvell said he reached out to players individually following the death of George Floyd. Norvell told reporters he has engaged in “a lot of open communication with our team, our players and our coaches,” following Floyd’s death. Norvell also added he

“went back and forth individually with every player this weekend.”

However, Wilson says things didn’t go as his head coach has illustrated. Wilson claims that he and teammates are set to boycott workouts because head coach Norvell lied about the discussions he had with his players about the recent unrest following the police killing of George Floyd.

“Man this did not happen mane. We got a generated text that was sent to everybody. There was no one on one talk between us and coach. This is a lie and me and my teammates as a whole are outraged and we will not be working out until further notice.”

Man this ? did not happen mane. We got a generated text that was sent to everybody. There was no one on one talk between us and coach. This is a lie and me and my teammates as a whole are outraged and we will not be working out until further notice ? #hunchoout https://t.co/6Uuy6K7Eu3

— HEAD HUNCHO? (@marvinwilson21) June 4, 2020

In addition to his tweet, Wilson jumped over to  his Instagram page on Thursday (June 4th), to share a short 3 minute clip on why he chose to take a stand. Wilson says in the video,

“Yesterday, I took a stand that was not only for me or for FSU Football, not even for athletes in general, it’s for Big George Floyd. Black people in genenral. For the opression we have been going through for over 400 years. I want to say shout out to Colin Kaepernick for really being the first athlete I ever saw take a stand for something he believes in. I believe thoroughly black people have been oppressed way too long in America. 

He adds,

Now moving forward, we met as a team today, coming together and we are going to do three things. One, everybody on the team is going to be registered voters going forward. We’re going to have our say so in this next election and I encourage everybody, every black person, every athlete, every, anybody that has a so that’s willing to vote, go out and help this election. Two, we gone move forward we going to do different fundraisers and things like that to give money to organizations that help send black kids to college. Because we need more doctors, we need more lawyers, we need more politicians, we need more people with say so of color. Number three thing we’re going to do, to help kids around Tallahassee. “

In reaction, coach Norvell shared an apology to Wilson and his teammates. Coach Norvell says he is at fault for using the wrong wording in his interview. He beings by expressing how proud he is of Marvin for using his words and platform,

“I’m proud of Marin for utilizing his platform to express his reaction to my comments in an earlier interview. Last Saturday evening, I sent a text to each player individually to present an opportunity for open communication with me. Many member of our team chose to respond and have more in-depth conversations about issues and feeling. Marvin is right. It was mistaken to use the word “every.” Particularly at this time, word are important and I’m sorry.”

pic.twitter.com/zMNJBAgPW3

— Mike Norvell (@Coach_Norvell) June 4, 2020

FSU athletic director David Coburn told reporters players were very candid and emotional.

“They are angry, they are hurt, they are frustrated, they’re concerned, and some of them are just scared. They had a number of good ideas about what we in athletics can do to help.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA_VE72nk67/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Reportedly, Florida State players began voluntary workouts at the school’s football facility on Monday. It is unclear how many players plan to join Wilson in his boycott, but multiple Florida State players liked or shared Wilson’s tweet. Wilson, a senior from Houston, is the No. 9 prospect overall and No. 1 defensive tackle on ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s 2021 “Big Board.” He had 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in nine games before suffering a season-ending hand injury in 2019.

What are your thoughts on how Marvin Wilson handled his head coach’s tweet? Let us know in the comments!