Rapper and rabid University of Miami Hurricanes fan Luther Campbell has never been one to shy away from controversy. Campbell is best known for the sexually explicit lyrics he sang as a member of the hit late 1980s-early 1990s rap group 2 Live Crew.
Now he's stirring up trouble with a recent editorial posting on the Miami New Times website. In it, he lashes out at the University of Florida and writes of the university's "long history of racism." Campbell details UF's struggle with racial integration in the 1950s and 1960s, "For decades, the Gainesville school's overseers were instrumental in preventing African-Americans from getting a higher education." Miami and Florida have a long, and often rancorous, rivalry and play each other in football this Saturday.
He goes on to argue that former UF defensive coordinator Charlie Strong was passed up for the school's head football coaching job due to his race. The school hired Urban Meyer instead of Strong and went on to win two national championships during Meyer's tenure. Campbell's Gator-bashing post ends with some words UM may have to back up, "The Canes are gonna roast those racist Gators."
Campbell's association with the Hurricanes football program has a history of controversy itself. He was alleged to have been behind what was referred to as a "pay-for-play" system at Miami, which involved cash rewards for scoring touchdowns and big hits. He also once threatened to go public with various violations by the university's athletic department if Ryan Collins, an African-American player, wasn't named the team's starting quarterback for the 1993 season.
Miami and Florida will continue their bitter rivalry on Saturday when they face off at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens. You can read Campbell's full post on the New Times' website.
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