You Be the Jury: Musburger Criticized for Comments Praising Oklahoma Player Who Punched Woman

During Monday night’s broadcast of the Sugar Bowl, ESPN college football broadcaster Brent Musburger created a bit of a firestorm when he declared his support for Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon, who was suspended for a year after punching a woman in 2014. Mixon’s case has become highly publicized recently, due to the fact that video of the incident has gone public for the first time.

These were Musburger’s comments:

It was troubling, very troubling to see. We’ve talked to the coaches. And they all swear the young man is doing fine. Like I said, Oklahoma thought he might even transfer. But he sat out the suspension, re-instated. And folks, he’s just one of the best. And let’s hope, given a second chance by (head coach) Bob Stoops and Oklahoma, let’s hope that this young man makes the most of his chance and goes on to have a career in the National Football League.

Musburger was apparently informed of the social media criticism he’d been receiving for his comments, and later in the telecast, he added the following:

Apparently, some people were upset when I wished this young man well at the next level. Let me make something perfectly clear. What he did with that young lady was brutal. Uncalled for. He’s apologized. He was tearful. He got a second chance. He got a second chance from Bob Stoops. I happen to pull for people with second chances, okay? Let me make it absolutely clear that I hope he has a wonderful career, and he teaches people with that brutal, violent video. Okay?

You be the jury: Did Musburger’s comments deserve backlash?

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