Clemson tight end forgives coach who used racial slur: ‘I’m happy he’s my coach’
Clemson tight end Braden Galloway insists that assistant coach Danny Pearman’s use of the n-word during a 2017 practice is not indicative of the type of person Pearman is.
Galloway, speaking after Tuesday’s practice, said he was already aware of the incident involving Pearman and former tight end D.J. Greenlee before it was brought to light this summer.
Greenlee told The State in June that Pearman used the word in a heated practice discussion moments after Greenlee first used the word.
“He was repeating what I just said. He’s like, ‘n-word this, n-word that,” Greenlee recalled.
Pearman issued an apology this summer, saying, “What I overheard, I had no right to repeat.”
Galloway spoke with reporters Tuesday, becoming the first tight end to speak with the media since the incident made national headlines this summer. Galloway said he forgave Pearman for the incident and holds no ill will toward him.
“Obviously there are things going on in this world today that just aren’t right, and some people, it’s hard to really get through their minds, trying to explain to them and they’re just not understanding. And coach Pearman’s not one of those people,” said Galloway, a junior. “He’s very empathetic and very sympathetic about how we feel. He’s talked to specifically me and Jaelyn (Lay) because we’re the only African-American tight ends, and just made sure that everything was clear.
“I’ve been here three years. I know what kind of guy he is. I know what kind of person he is. ... I’m happy he’s my coach.”
Galloway said he appreciated Pearman reaching out to the tight ends about the incident this summer and added that Pearman later addressed the entire offense.
Doing that only confirmed to Galloway what he already thought about Pearman as a man.
“I feel like that was very important, because that wasn’t something he had to do. He could’ve easily let it blow over, not said anything about it, and I probably wouldn’t have addressed it because I know how he’s treated me,” Galloway said. “I know how he’s treated other African-American guys on the team, so that’s not anything I ever questioned. But still, he took the time out of his day to contact us, make sure we didn’t have any questions, make sure the air was cleared between us, and I’m thankful for that.”
Pearman, who played college football for the Tigers, has been on staff at Clemson since December 2008. He is currently serving as the assistant head coach, special teams coach and tight ends coach.
“I’ve never had any encounter like that with him,” Galloway said. “Things happen. But at the end of the day I feel like everybody knows the kind of person he is and the kind of coach he is.
This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 10:14 AM.
