Lilly Donahue | Indiana University
During last night’s Sugar Bowl matchup between Oklahoma and Auburn, ESPN announcer Brent Musburger elected to make an extremely controversial statement about Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon, who has been under fire after a video surfaced of him punching a woman in the face in 2014. Mixon broke the woman’s jaw and multiple bones in her face, but Musburger seemed to think that her injuries were petty details that need not be mentioned. Instead, Musburger made it known that he hopes that Mixon has a lengthy NFL career, and assured viewers that Mixon was doing fine amidst the outrage surrounding the video. Musburger managed to make Mixon seem like the victim, and defended Mixon by saying he supports “second chances”. I was watching the Sugar bowl live when Musburger said this, and I actually rewound the game to make sure I correctly heard him. I was, and am, absolutely shocked that Musburger could be so dismissive of what Mixon did to that woman. The national platform Musburger carries when he announces gives him the unique opportunity to speak to a massive audience about an extremely important issue. Musburger could have used this platform to condemn domestic violence absolutely. Musburger instead chose to defend Mixon, and therefore continued the all-too familiar ignorance of violence against women.
Discussions about Mixon’s assault were bound to come up, as domestic violence is an extremely prevalent issue in the United States, especially within the sports community. When the infamous video of Ray Rice knocking out a woman surfaced, people began to actually discuss domestic violence, and Rice’s NFL career has all but ended. Oklahoma allowed Mixon to take what amounted to a redshirt year as his “punishment”, and now Mixon is a star that has propelled the Sooners to a New Year’s Six Bowl. Musburger and the Oklahoma football program decided that talent trumps morals, and their decision has done nothing to help one of America’s biggest problems. Musburger has lost every ounce of respect that I had for him, and so has the Oklahoma football program. Domestic abuse cannot be excused. Joe Mixon was not only excused, but maintained a full scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, received praise from the likes of Musburger, and is on the path the a lucrative NFL career. What did the woman he struck get? Four facial fractures and wired shut-jaw. Maybe Musburger should have added that fact into his Joe Mixon pity party.