FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State defensive line coach Greg Lupfer has been suspended without pay for two weeks for using a gay slur when yelling at Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday in the New Mexico Bowl last weekend.
Greg Lupfer
Athletic director Jack Graham also ordered Lupfer to undergo anger management and diversity training at his own expense.
The incident was captured by ESPN cameras right after Halliday scored a touchdown early on in the game, and although there was no audio of what he said, his lips showed him using profanities and what’s believed to be the slur.
“Fuck you, you fucking faggot,” it appears Lupfer hurled at Halliday.
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Lupfer later issued an apology via CSU’s Twitter account (here and here) after video of the slur went viral:
“I am truly sorry for what I said. It was wrong, and those words do not represent who I am or what I believe in. I apologize for the embarrassment I caused for Colorado State University, this team and my family.”
Rex Fuller with the GLBT Community Center of Colorado, a gay rights group in Denver, said the comments are offensive but not shocking.
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ProgressNow New Mexico executive director Pat Davis, said he commends Lupfer for the apology, but that his comments are unwelcome in New Mexico, especially after the state’s legalization of same-sex marriage just last week.
Davis said the comment is also damaging as many openly gay athletes prepare to travel to Russia for the Winter Olympics.
Lupfer issued a statement saying he was grateful to keep his job at Colorado State, and said “I am deeply sorry for my behavior, which does not represent who I am or my values.”
