UCF Apologizes for Insensitive Tweet Directed at Kent State

The social media post inadvertently evoked the infamous 1970 shooting on the Ohio school’s campus.

During UCF’s blowout victory over Kent State on Thursday night in Orlando, the Knights’ official social media account on X (formerly Twitter) posted a regrettable message inadvertently evoking an infamous 1970 campus shooting.

On Friday, UCF issued an apology for the post.

“An unfortunate post was made with the intention to reference the famous Shannon Sharpe sideline clip of him on the phone from a 1996 game against the New England Patriots,” the statement began. “As soon as our staff was made aware of the unintended reference to the unfortunate event that took place in 1970, the post was removed. It was addressed with our staff immediately, and updated protocols have been put in place to avoid a situation like this in the future. Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir has apologized to Kent State Director of Athletics Randale L. Richmond.”

On May 4, 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire into a group of Vietnam War protestors on the Kent State campus, killing four students and wounding nine others.

UCF football’s now-deleted post read “SOMEBODY CALL THE NATIONAL GUARD,” with quarterback John Rhys Plumlee pictured on a sideline phone following a touchdown pass.