Former Sooner Kelly apologizes for rant against OU strength staff

Comments Comment on this article38

By Jake Trotter
Published: April 11, 2008

NORMAN — Former Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly went on a Tyler, Texas, radio station Thursday evening to apologize for publicly ripping the Sooner strength staff after his pro day.

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"I should've went to the guy I was mad at rather than put it in the media like that," Kelly said, referring to OU strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt. "That was a mistake on my part."

Kelly was upset Wednesday after running the 40-yard dash in a disappointing 4.68 seconds.

Kelly blamed the OU strength staff for changing the testing surface from AstroTurf to field turf the morning of the pro day.

Schmidt said it was the more than 35 pro scouts in attendance who asked him to move the testing to field turf.

"I can't say I was prepared as I should've been," Kelly said. "I hadn't ever run on that surface as far as my training goes.

"But I want to make one thing clear: I'm not blaming anyone for the time that I ran."

Kelly told David Smoak of KTBB that he was thinking about his family when he ranted about the OU staff.

"This isn't just about me. I don't want my parents to work again in their lifetime," he said. "That can be the difference between running this and running that. I was thinking about my family when I said all of that stuff.

"You never saw me say stuff after a game, like, why didn't they throw me the ball, I was open on every play. I never want to portray myself as a guy that complains. The other guys who were training wanted to say the same things I did, but I went out and said it."

When asked if Wednesday's incident would affect his allegiance to OU, Kelly said no.

"Right now, I'm down about it," he said. "But Oklahoma did put me on the field, they did give me the opportunity for scouts to see me on film. So I can't take that away from coach (Bob) Stoops. He believed in my ability to go out there and play. I was a Sooner when I got up there and I'll be a Sooner when they put me in my grave.

"I support the whole coaching staff, the whole strength staff and (what happened) is not going to affect my allegiance to the program."


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When are ppl going to stop calling these players kids??? These players are FAR from kids, they get what they want whenver they want, cars, food, money....Oh wait maybe they are still kids. I don't forgive malcolm. I'm sure he will "cry" when he doesn't get the playing time he wants in the NFL.
colin, oklahoma city - Apr 16, 2008 3:12 PM
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Craig, your an bleeming idiot! If there would only be 10,000 fans with out the fairweathers why was the stadium full for all the years that we weren't contenders in the 90's? Again, you're an idiot and please remove head from rectum before speaking.
Brian L., oklahoma city - Apr 15, 2008 11:34 AM
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Louis, you're an idiot. Before you think about bashing one's grammar (yes, grammar is spelled with an 'A'), take a look at the run-on monstrosity you call a sentence.
Andrew, Norman - Apr 14, 2008 11:47 AM
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Malcolm Kelly = Rashaun Woods. He is out of the NFL in 3 years. He won't be able to get separation unless he uses the umpire as a pick.
Kyle, Oklahoma City - Apr 12, 2008 7:38 PM
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I forgive you Malcolm. Boomer Sooner!
Jeff, Tulsa - Apr 12, 2008 10:57 AM
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I am glad to see that he was man enough to apologize. Don't be too hard on him, he's just a kid really. And as to whether or not he was coached to apologize, Thank the LORD there is an adult in his life he listens to and respects enough to follow though on that person's advice. Too many young people would just live in the moment of their frustration and not apologize. The proof of this young man's character is yet to come, let's see if someday he is admitted into the Hall of Fame. Then we will know if he has lived his life well. Best of luck to you Kelly.
Rebecca, Owasso - Apr 12, 2008 8:15 AM
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Malcolm Kelly is a young man who was obviously frustrated and spoke emotionally to the media. Give him a break. He will continue to mature. He'll still get drafted. No big deal.
Matt, Edmond - Apr 12, 2008 1:22 AM
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MOVE ON PEOPLE. let's be adults and "forgive and forget". There are more important things to be upset about (like the price of gas, the cost of the Iraq war, our incompetent president, etc)
francisco, socal - Apr 12, 2008 12:20 AM
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The damage is done. Goodbye Top 15 Pick. Hello "Late First Round Maybe Early Second". There is not a whole lot that separates "potential" with "Hall of Fame" and 99% of that gap is made up of attitude and work ethic. Already, you've got "attitude" questions.
CECIL, Encinitas - Apr 11, 2008 11:00 PM
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Hey Jerry, I gladd you have all that peace and understanding that goes beyond all. I just don't trust anyone who wears Jesus on the car or sleve or a fish on their car.
Dean, Edmond - Apr 11, 2008 11:00 PM
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I'm just impressed that he finished the 40-yard dash ... I figured he'd run about 20 of it then disappear for the second half, like he did last season.
Scott, Springfield - Apr 11, 2008 10:07 PM
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If you substracted "fair weather fans" from OU, you have 10,000 fans on hand and Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium would be awful empty.
Craig, Midwest City - Apr 11, 2008 9:45 PM
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On another point, Oklahoma University does not need fair weather fans. Oklahoma football needs fans who will support it through thick and thin! When fans show unforgiveness towards a player who positively contributed to the program, What does that say about Oklahoma football fans then? It makes exactly what the O-State, Texas, Texas-Tech, and all the other Big 12 team's fans say about OU fans true. Most of you who have been OU football fans for a number of years know what I mean by what they say. You have read it here during the season! Don't give them an avenue to come on here and whine and complain about OU fans being spoiled. That is all.
jerry, Hephzibah - Apr 11, 2008 9:07 PM
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Here we go again. The word of unforgiveness starts. Sooner fans we need to learn forgiveness because there is no one perfect in this world no not one. Malcolm Kelly has learned from his mistake as I knew he would if given the chance. Do not crucify him for a mistake. Over 2000 years ago our ancestors crucified someone who was perfect and he had compassion for everyone he came in contact with> He even had compassion for the ones who crucified him because he said "Father, forgive them because they know not what they do." Do not do what the Romans did in those days. Look what happened to Rome, their country fell by foreign invaders because they showed no compassion and displayed unbelief. Show compassion because someday soon you will need someone to forgive you! The question you need to ask yourself is: Will someone be there to forgive you. Fortunantly for all of us there is one who will forgive us when no one else will. He was the one who was crucified on the cross over 2000 years ago. His name is Jesus Christ. Get to know, I have and my life has changed for the better, my family has been restored and I have peace that goes beyond all understanding.
jerry, Hephzibah - Apr 11, 2008 8:54 PM
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Anyone taking bets that he was coached to issue an apology?
John, Oklahoma City - Apr 11, 2008 7:46 PM
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Too late....who cares. Worse than that though, are the pathetic 4 decent games Kelly had as a Sooner. I had almost as many important receptions as he did. Want to be a star in the NFL? Try being more than a local celebrity and instead being a bona fide star in college first. Kelly never was. Thanks for the 800 yards receiving last year. Thanks for tanking at Colorado, the Big XII game, and the Fiesta Bowl. Marcus Dupree thinks you're a flameout.
Dustin, Oklahoma City - Apr 11, 2008 7:44 PM
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Malcolm Kelly says he wants to make money so his parents don't ever have to work the rest of their lives. So what is so bad about working? I didn't like his statement. Makes me think he is out of touch with reality. Working for a living is a good thing, not a bad thing.
Steve, Andover - Apr 11, 2008 7:21 PM
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That may be Wendell, but Malcolm is also much too stupid of a human being to come up with such a belated apology on his own without the help of his agent and attorney.
John, Edmond - Apr 11, 2008 7:11 PM
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Thats great. Malcolm is to good of a ball player and person to have made the comments that he did. When it first came out, I thought he may drop to the Cowboys at number 22 but that is just wishfull thanking.
Wendell, Clermont - Apr 11, 2008 6:39 PM
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Kelly is a great athelete. He has done good things at OU. He will do great things in the NFL. I understand his frustration and his lashing out. He has apologized for saying what he said. It's over. No need to crucify him further. Good luck Kelly.
Brennon, Granbury - Apr 11, 2008 6:38 PM
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To all the people who want to assault his words, they are exactly that, words. The english language has a written form and a verbal form. These are direct quotes, taken from what was said during a radio interview. I would be right there with you if this had been a written apology, but many people speak differently than they write i.e. the word "dog" as portrayed by Randy Jackson on American Idol. I seriously doubt that Mr. Jackson writes letters involving the phrase "yo dog". Your comments on a person's spoken grammar and slang reveal something about you. Jealousy, plain and simple.
John, Mustang - Apr 11, 2008 6:00 PM
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Thanks for the apology . . . let's move on.
Rebecca, Oklahoma City - Apr 11, 2008 5:36 PM
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David, I think it's probably more of a reflection on public high schools than the college system. Also, you have to remember these people aren't turning in a research paper, but just talking and giving quick responses. Also, ripping college athletes for their lack of education is so cliché. There are plenty of athletes who don't meet academic standards. And I'm not sure how many college students you know but there are plenty of non-athletes who probably shouldn't be there either.
johnny, LA - Apr 11, 2008 5:30 PM
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James and Brian, I was thinking the same thing as I reading “Louis R’s” statement. I love when ignorant fools try to correct people. I especially love when they misspell “grammar.” Thanks for the laugh Louis R!
johnny, LA - Apr 11, 2008 5:20 PM
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"I should've went to the guy I was mad at rather than put it in the media like that,"

Should have "went?" This guy is in COLLEGE? It is such a joke. I heard some of the UCLA and Stanford players talking in the lead up to the Elite Eight and was astounded that these kids could be enrolled at STANFORD and UCLA. They couldn't string two grammatically correct sentences together. Yet, they are at Stanford and UCLA. And now, Kelly shows us more of the "student athlete" with "I should have went to..." Unbelievable. College sports is such a joke. Just stop the "student athlete" charade and make them farm teams for the pros and stop the pretense that so many of these kids actually belong at the university level.
David, Oklahoma City - Apr 11, 2008 5:16 PM
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I see alot of "families" of Pro. atheletes being "taken care of" by their children (or siblings, cousins, etc.... No way would my parents let me do that, nor would I let my son support me. I hope there isn't a whole slew of family waiting on him to support them for the rest of their lives.
Kim, Oklahoma City - Apr 11, 2008 5:03 PM
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That was a deserved apology, and I am glad to see him put to use the manners he was hopefully taught. And as far as Louis' post, that was THE LONGEST run on sentence with poor speech and punctuation.....
Mitzi , Oklahoma City - Apr 11, 2008 4:29 PM
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Louis must be and OSU fan. I seem to remember a defensive end that graduated but somehow didn't know how to read. Anyhow at least Kelly was man enough to apologize for what he said. I still think scouts will think more of his rant than his 40 time. Teams don't need or want a Chad Johnson or Terrel Owens, except the Cowboys. They want a Marvin Harrison or a 2007 Randy Moss. So maybe Kelly should just shut his mouth and just try his best.
Brian, Oklahoma City - Apr 11, 2008 4:11 PM
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Louis R: Where did you go to school? Your comment is missing at least one period and a set of quotation marks. Additionally it appears to have 3 sentences combined into one. See you at the carwash, Cowboy!
James, Wildwood - Apr 11, 2008 4:07 PM
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If he really wants to stand up and be a man and apologize, he needs to do it on a local basis, not in Tyler, Texas! What a selfish jerk. Without OU he'd have no chance of being where he's at.
Chris, Oklahoma City - Apr 11, 2008 4:01 PM
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Glad Malcolm decided to man up I like how he said "But I want to make one thing clear: I'm not blaming anyone for the time that I ran." Now I hope we can put this to the side it seems like the media has been focusing on the negatives with OU and this year NFL draft prospects instead of the postives. I'm surprised there has not been more coverage on the other prospects from OU and where they've been training of how do they feel about the draft. There is at least 7 sooners that are NFL hopeful and hadn't heard to much coverage on the other ones.
Brandon, edmond - Apr 11, 2008 3:44 PM
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I should've went to the guy, do they not teach basic grammer at OU or do football players get a 'pass'
And I will say again, Kelly will not make it past the first year of the NFL, he will be dumped and since he has no degree, We will see him drying our cars at the local car wash.


Lou, Yukon - Apr 11, 2008 3:43 PM
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Malcolm scored in A in my book. He knew he was wrong and admitted his mistakes. I am glad he will be a sooner for life. He graduated from a lesson in the school of hard knocks with a diploma in humility and servitude.
Funston, Norman - Apr 11, 2008 3:39 PM
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Way to man-up Kelly! I understand his disappointment but we should all remember, he's only a kid. It was a classy, mature act to apoligise. NOW...let's all forgive and welcome him back into the good graces of the Sooner Nation. My memories of him are some of the most amazing catches I have ever witnessed a Sooner make in my 40 years of following Sooner football.
francisco, socal - Apr 11, 2008 3:25 PM
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Later MK. Flush out your headgear and all will be fine.
Roger, Keller - Apr 11, 2008 3:17 PM
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Stick a fork in this subject; it's done.
harry, lake forest - Apr 11, 2008 3:12 PM
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I like the apology. He knows there is a better way to handle it and is willing to let OU help he. They will be glad to be on his side. He is family, families have hard days. He has grown and is ready to move forward. Boomer Sooner.
Arron, Holdenville - Apr 11, 2008 3:12 PM
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"The other guys who were training wanted to say the same things I did, but I went out and said it." .... The ever-popular backhanded apology. C'mon Malcolm, man up.
Kelly, norman - Apr 11, 2008 3:07 PM
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