Ex-Ute Claims Scalley Used Racial Slur; Reacts To Reinstatement

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah cornerback Ryan Lacy is speaking out after the news of defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley being reinstated following an investigation into a 2013 text message that included a racial slur.

Scalley was suspended on June 5 after the program was notified that he used a racial slur in a text message to a recruit in 2013. Nearly four weeks later, Utah announced that Scalley will return to the team.

After the news came out in early June, Lacy was one of the first players to speak out and said in 2008 as a freshman, Scalley called him a racial slur.

Lacy stayed away from social media between June 7 until the day that Scalley was reinstated on July 1.

Reaction To Scalley Being Reinstated

“As I sit here watching my son sleep, I fear that he will have to deal with the same ignorance I did,” Lacy wrote. “I chose to speak up because I, as a father myself, would never teach my son to degrade or disrespect a culture in the manner @SafetyPride (Morgan Scalley) did.”

As I sit here watching my son sleep, I fear that he will have to deal with the same ignorance I did. I chose to speak up because I, as a father myself, would never teach my son to degrade or disrespect a culture in the manner @SafetyPride did.

— Ryan Lacy (@SpotlightLacy) July 2, 2020

Just 11 minutes after the first tweet, Lacy sent out another tweet saying that he and his family are receiving threats.

“I have received threats to my family! @UUtah (University of Utah) I am sickened by this! My mother is in fear after her address was exposed,” Lacy wrote. “No phone call, no care, but you had enough time to rewrite a contract for a coach that has blatantly proven misconduct.”

I have received threats to my family!. @UUtah I am sickened by this! My mother is in fear after her address was exposed. No phone call, no care, but you had enough time to rewrite a contract for a coach that has blatantly proven misconduct.

— Ryan Lacy (@SpotlightLacy) July 2, 2020

Seven minutes after the second tweet, Lacy stated that he isn’t afraid of speaking his truth.

“I used to be afraid to speak up for undisclosed reasons while attending @UUtah (University of Utah) but after being blatantly pushed off and ignored,” Lacy wrote. “I am no longer afraid of speaking my truth. No longer intimidated. Over and out. God bless and goodnight.”

I used to be afraid to speak up for undisclosed reasons while attending @UUtah but after being blatantly pushed off and ignored. I am no longer afraid of speaking my truth. No longer intimidated. Over and out. God bless and Goodnight

— Ryan Lacy (@SpotlightLacy) July 2, 2020

Lacy later posted a screenshot of text messages that he received from an individual using racial slurs.

Later on Thursday afternoon, the University of Utah tweeted out a response to those that made threats to Lacy.

“Threats made to alum Ryan Lacy are repugnant,” the university wrote. “Such actions are not tolerated by the University. While we know the vast majority of the U of U community treats each other with respect and dignity, there are some outliers who do not share that spirit. We condemn their racist words and actions in the strongest way possible.”

While we know the vast majority of the #UofU community treats each other with respect & dignity, there are some outliers who do not share that spirit.

We condemn their racist words and actions in the strongest way possible.

— University of Utah (@UUtah) July 2, 2020

Playing Career At Utah

Lacy joined the Utes out of Antelope, California in 2008 where he used a medical redshirt after having surgery on both shoulders during the preseason. In 2009, Lacy played in 13 games on either special teams or cornerback, posting seven tackles, and an interception. He was on the scout team in 2010 before being named a Pac-12 honorable mention in 2011 when he started all 13 games at cornerback.

As a senior in 2012, Lacy played in 11 games with 10 starts. He recorded 22 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Lacy will join the Crimson Corner podcast on Thursday afternoon.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.