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Florida Bar Suspends Employee Over Racist Comments to Miami Player
· Confirmed
In Short: The Florida Bar said Tuesday it has placed an employee on administrative leave amid an investigation into online comments sent to a Miami football player after the Hurricanes beat Florida State last weekend.
An account using Kade McLendon's name, who has worked at the Florida Bar for about two years as a computer technician, sent several messages to Miami linebacker Damon Wilson II, including racist and homophobic slurs.
The Bar said in its statement, 'The messages in question are not only ethically and morally reprehensible but also violate our internal social media policy for employees.'
Wilson, in his first season with the Hurricanes after transferring from Georgia and Missouri, received messages that included the use of the N-word, allusions to slavery, and threats of sexual violence against him and his family.
The Bar added, 'As the internal investigation continues, we are committed to enforcing our policies and procedures while making sure that any due process rights are protected.'
Miami offensive lineman Ryan Rodriguez said, 'That's my brother and I embrace him,' when asked about Wilson and the online comments.
It's unclear why the private messages were sent to Wilson, but the incident highlights the broader issues of online harassment and racism in sports.
The Miami Hurricanes are currently ranked first in the AP Top 25 and will play Pittsburgh at home this Saturday.
The team's recent win over Florida State has also highlighted their strong home-field advantage, with the Hurricanes boasting a 15-1 record at home since the start of the 2024 season.
The Florida Bar's swift action in suspending McLendon reflects a growing awareness of the need to address such incidents promptly and seriously.
Background
The Florida Bar placed an employee on administrative leave after racist and homophobic messages were sent to Miami football player Damon Wilson II.
The Florida Bar is the integrated, or unified bar organization for the state of Florida. It is the third-largest such bar in the United States.
What's confirmed
- The Florida Bar said Tuesday it has placed an employee on administrative leave amid an investigation into online comments that were sent to a Miami football player after the Hurricanes beat Florida State last weekend.
- 1-ranked team in the AP Top 25, next plays Saturday at home against Pittsburgh.
- An account from a person using McLendon's name sent a number of messages to Miami's Damon Wilson II after the Hurricanes' 43-35 victory, including several racist and homophobic slurs.
- "The messages in question are not only ethically and morally reprehensible but also violate our internal social media policy for employees," the Bar said in its statement.
- "glimpse into the life of a black student athlete."
- Florida Bar suspends employee over comments to Miami football player | ESPN La Crosse 105.5 You are using an outdated browser.
- Kade McLendon, who has worked at the Florida Bar for about two years as a computer technician, was identified as the employee.
- "It's more than a game. That's my brother."
- "That's my brother and I embrace him," Miami offensive lineman Ryan Rodriguez said Tuesday when asked about Wilson and the online comments.
- Florida Bar employee Kade McLendon was the person in question, according to the statement released by the organization on Tuesday, after an account using his name sent several messages to Miami linebacker Damon Wilson II, which included the use of the N-word, made allusions to slavery and threatened sexual violence against the player and his family.
- Wilson is in his first season with the Hurricanes after transferring to Miami after time with Georgia and Missouri.
- "As the internal investigation continues, we are committed to enforcing our policies and procedures while making sure that any due process rights are protected." An attempt by The Associated Press to reach McLendon on Tuesday was unsuccessful.
What's still developing
- Now, a skeptic would be quick to point out that a 70-point win against Florida A&M will do a lot to juice those averages, but it's the consistency with which Miami has been blitzing its opponents that stands out.
- The move comes a week after Florida State football dropped a 27-24 decision to SMU on Labor Day evening, dropping the Seminoles to a conference-worst 3-14 in ACC play since the beginning of the 2024 season.
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- Miami surged to the top of both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll after its 43–35 win over rival Florida State, capitalizing on chaos elsewhere.
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- “The great teams in college football have the ability to grow each week,” first-year Penn State coach Matt Campbell said Wednesday.
- 4 Miami visits Clemson as a 16.5-point favorite in college football Week 5, and four of these seven spread picks lay the points, starting with Penn State at Northwestern on Friday night.
- MORE: Week 5 college football prediction market picks: Pitt, West Virginia upset bets Penn State blew a 17-0 lead in a 24-20 home loss to Wisconsin last Saturday and fell out of the AP Top 25.
- Miami football engaged in a shootout with an upset-minded Florida State team Saturday, but ended with this questionable call.
- Florida State even led 21-14 going into the fourth quarter before Miami answered with two touchdowns to go up 28-21.
- The Florida State Seminoles came up just short in one of the best games of the 2026 college football season in a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday night.