Utah State offensive lineman Ty Shaw has been suspended while the university investigates racist remarks he made on social media.
USU suspended Shaw, a senior out of Herriman High in South Jordan, in response to an online exchange he had with former Herriman and Snow College player Dylan Bennet.
“This will not be tolerated and we have suspended the player immediately,” according to a joint statement released Sunday by athletic director John Hartwell and head coach Gary Andersen, “and pending investigation will take immediate action.”
Shaw posted a Snapchat message Saturday wishing people a happy Fourth of July. Bennet had responded that the holiday wasn’t something that should be celebrated because the ratification of the Declaration of Independence freed only white people.
After numerous exchanges that grew increasingly more heated, Shaw responded, “Y’all have months dedicated to ur oppressed asses and still so greedy to have more purely cause history didn’t treat your ancestors right. Y’all think ur above everyone else now but acting like you don’t have s---. Crazy how y’all people think.”
Bennet then posted a portion of the conversation on Instagram along with Shaw’s email address. He later bragged on Twitter about getting Shaw suspended. He said Shaw had written him a long apology.
Shaw has been with the Aggies since 2016. Last season the 6-foot-4, 300-pound left guard played in all 13 games, starting nine. He led Herriman to the 5A state championship during his senior season.
On June 3, the Aggies football staff posted a message on Twitter promoting racial equality. The message, which bore at least 25 signatures said in part, “As a staff, we are committed to being part of the solution by cultivating attitudes of understanding, fostering respect, creating opportunity for all, and working to build bridges that unite us as individuals, as the Aggie football family, and as citizens of our nation.”
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