Texas Tech's Joey McGuire, Dimitri Moore refute Lane Kiffin's claim of spitting, racial slur in bowl game
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and linebacker Dimitri Moore both are refuting Lane Kiffin’s allegations that a Red Raiders play spit on an Ole Miss player and used a racial slur.
McGuire and Moore both issued statements on the matter, McGuire stating he’s “disappointed” in Kiffin’s claim.
“We are disappointed an opposing head coach decided to insinuate serious allegations that are false and irresponsible,” stated McGuire, per Matt Fortuna. “I have discussed these allegations with Dimitri Moore, and he disputed the two claims that were brought forth against him.
“I am proud of our team and our performance last night in what was a memorable win to close our season in front of a sea of Red Raiders.”
Continuing, Moore added that he “can’t state strongly enough that these accusations are false.”
“I can’t state strongly enough that these accusations are false,” added Moore. “It is disappointing to have my final game as a collegiate student-athlete overshadowed by the false accusations that were stated last night.
“Since I have arrived at Texas Tech, I have strived to represent my teammates, this coaching staff and most importantly, my family, in the highest manner. It has been an honor to represent this program as we closed our season with a great team victory last night.”
The alleged act took place during a scrum between the teams, following a fumble early in the fourth quarter by Ole Miss wide receiver Dayton Wade, which was recovered by the Red Raiders. During the scrum, there was plenty of shoving between opponents, and Rebels wide receiver Jordan Watkins was assessed a personal foul penalty.
Speaking with the media following the loss, Kiffin stated his belief that the aforementioned penalty should have been on the aforementioned Moore, who wears No. 11 for the Red Raiders, instead of Watkins, who is also No. 11 for the Rebels.
“They announce our 11, which is Jordan Watkins, who wasn’t in the fight. It was their 11 that was fighting 71 [Ole Miss lineman Jayden Williams], and everybody knew because their own coaches were yelling at the guy,” Kiffin said, per ESPN.
“There was a racial slur involved; that’s not the point of what we’re talking about, [it’s] about the spitting part. I brought our own 71 up to the officials, right or wrong, you see him crying? He’s not crying, not because he got spit on, it’s because something was said.”
Of course, Kiffin was asked to clarify whether he believes a Texas Tech player used a racial slur towards one of Ole Miss’ players, but the Rebels coach stated he wasn’t sure.
“I’m not going to, because I did not hear it, [I’m not going to] say that that happened for sure that he gave a racial slur to our player,” Kiffin said, via ESPN. “I was told that that was said in that [incident], but I did not hear that. So that would obviously be a giant issue.”
For context, both Texas Tech’s Moore and Ole Miss’ Watkins are Black.
Additionally, Kiffin stated that part of the reason he was so upset was because he wanted fair treatment for his players, believing it was malarkey that Watkins was assessed a penalty that should’ve been on someone else.
“I’m going to defend our players when a kid spits on them and is accused to a national audience that it’s him,” Kiffin said. “So Jordan has to deal with this.”
While McGuire wasn’t originally asked about the situation, Kiffin claimed to have spoken with him about his after the game.
“If you actually watch over there, one of them’s kind of laughing because he got off,” Kiffin said. “He’s screaming at the player, they’re losing their mind on him. … I talked to their head coach afterwards. He was like: ‘Crazy officiating out there.’ I go: ‘Yeah, that was really bad on that one that your guy spit and our guy got the penalty.’ He was like: ‘Yeah, I know.’”