That one didn’t hit the mark.
UCF had to apologize for a social media post deemed insensitive during the team’s 56-6 blowout win in its season opener against Kent State on Thursday.
The post featured UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee on the phone on the sidelines at FBC Mortgage Stadium, captioned, “Somebody call the National Guard.”
While the post was supposed to reference a famous Shannon Sharpe moment in which he pretended to use the sideline phone to speak to the President to call the National Guard during a 1996 Broncos game against the Patriots, it instead reminded people about a tragic Kent State moment more than 50 years ago.
In 1970, the National Guard was deployed to Kent State’s campus because of students protesting the Vietnam War, and troops fired into the crowd, killing four students and injuring nine others, causing a nationwide student strike.
“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,” UCF said in a statement to USA Today.
“As soon as our staff was made aware of the unintended reference to the unfortunate event that took place at Kent State 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.”
The Knights rolled over the Golden Flashes on Thursday in a thorough domination.
Plumlee completed 22-of-30 passes and tossed 281 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, while also running for 90 yards and one touchdown.
UCF had 723 total yards of offense.
Last season, the Knights went 9-5 and earned a berth to the Military Bowl, where they lost 30-13 to Duke.
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