Illinois State Apologizes After Fan Used Racial Slur Against Norfolk State Player

The Redbirds program apologized on Sunday, a day after the incident took place.

Illinois State issued an apology to Norfolk State on Sunday, one day after a Redbirds fan yelled a racial slur toward a visiting player during the Spartans’ 64–58 victory in Normal, Ill.

According to video from ESPN+, an Illinois State fan directed the n-word toward Norfolk State guard Jamarii Thomas, resulting in a heated face-to-face argument between Spartans coach Robert Jones and Redbirds coach Ryan Pedon near the scorer’s table at Horton Field House. Officials assessed both coaches technical fouls and ejected the fan from the game.

Illinois State media relations director Eric Jome apologized in a statement, saying the use of “racial slurs and other offensive language targeting people for their identity is abhorrent and is not tolerated” at the university.

“Illinois State has moved swiftly to investigate the report and will respond appropriately,” the statement said, per WJBC-AM in Bloomington, Ill. “Illinois State University and Redbird Athletics extend sincere apologies to Norfolk State University, its student-athletes, and its athletic staff for the deep upset caused, and university leaders have personally reached out to colleagues at Norfolk State.”

Ok here’s the video from the altercation between Norfolk State and Illinois State.

Broadcast said “one or two” Illinois State fans made comments of the “racial nature” towards NSU’s Jamarii Thomas.

Fans were ejected and both head coaches got technical fouls. pic.twitter.com/3RgCIPqXRJ

— Michael Sauls (@mcsauls) December 10, 2023

Pedon apologized in a separate note to Jones on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday afternoon, saying that he took “full responsibility” for allowing the “situation to escalate.”

“I was wrong for allowing the situation to escalate,” Pedon wrote. “I expressed to Coach Jones after the game-I absolutely did not hear what he was saying to me. Had I heard Coach Jones, my response would have been completely different. This was a misunderstanding in which I reacted to him without understanding the situation, and I own that mistake 100%. I would also like to apologize for any negative reflection my response may have brought to either institution, its student-athletes or basketball programs.”

Norfolk State (7–3) registered its third consecutive win on Saturday behind a 31-point performance from Thomas. Illinois State (6–4) saw a three-game winning streak end with the loss to the Spartans.