Penn State graduate David Petersen wrote a letter to Nittany Lions player Jonathan Sutherland stating his “shoulder-length dreadlocks look disgusting.” When trying to explain himself Peterson said he didn’t want the player “looking like Florida State and Miami guys.” The comment about the Miami football team is not surprising.
Peterson’s statement only dug himself deeper into what was perceived as a racist statement by Penn State football player Antonio Shelton who posted to twitter about the letter regarding Sutherland’s dreadlocks. The rebuttal by Petersen regarding the Florida State and Miami football teams is an old trope.