However, the same couldn’t be said for the USM pep band.
When KSU freshman point guard Angel Rodriguez stepped to the free-throw line in the first half, members of the band began to chant, “Where’s your green card?”
Video of the racist heckling of the Puerto Rico native was soon posted on YouTube and criticism of the band came quickly on social media websites.
USM President Martha Saunders posted a statement not long after the game on the school’s website apologizing for the band’s behavior.
“We deeply regret the remarks made by a few students at today’s game,” Saunders said. “The words of these individuals do not represent the sentiments of our pep band, athletic department or university. We apologize to Mr. Rodriguez and will take quick and appropriate disciplinary action against the students involved in this isolated incident.”
USM interim athletic director Jeff Hammond met with Kansas State athletic director John Currie Thursday afternoon at the CONSOL Energy Center to further apologize for the matter.
“I want to enunciate to him that the band’s behavior does not represent Southern Miss,” Hammond said.
Hammond also planned Thursday to meet with the pep band and he said he wanted to impress upon them “that this is not who we are.”
Hammond hoped to have the pep band’s director to meet with Rodriguez and apologize to him personally.
“I want to reach out to Conference USA and anyone else who is impacted by this, and take full responsibility,” Hammond said. “This does not represent the state or university. This is not acceptable.”
Media seated near the band began to pick up on what the group was chanting, including Manhattan (Kan.) Mercury writer Cole Manbeck.
He posted on his Twitter account: “Southern Miss band takes thing way too far. Chanting ‘where’s your green card?’ to Angel Rodriguez at foul line.”
Hammond said the band director stopped the chant and apologized to a media member nearby.
