Teammates rush to Sunderland’s aid, condemning tweet from alumnus

Penn State safety Jonathan Sutherland said Tuesday that he forgives the older Penn State alumnus who wrote a letter to him to criticize his dreadlocks.

“Although the message was indeed rude, ignorant and judging, I’ve taken no personal offense to it,” Sutherland posted on Twitter, “because personally I must respect you as a person before I respect your opinion.

“At the end of the day, without an apology needed, I forgive this individual because I’m nowhere close to being perfect and I expect God to forgive me for all the wrong I’ve done in my life.”

The letter written by David Petersen, a 1966 graduate who lives in Johnstown, caused an uproar at Penn State and drew emotional reactions from coach James Franklin and many others.

Petersen told the TribuneDemocrat on Tuesday that he wrote Sutherland, a team captain, because he “was just disgruntled about some of the hairdos that we’re seeing.”

Petersen’s letter to Sutherland was posted Monday night on Twitter by Penn State defensive tackle Antonio Shelton, who wrote: “One of my teammates got this. Explain to me how this isn’t racist.”

Petersen wrote that he and his wife are both Penn State graduates who follow many of the university’s teams. “We Are Penn State Proud!!!” was printed at the top of the letter.

“Watching the Idaho game on TV, we couldn’t help notice your, well, awful hair,” Petersen wrote in the letter. “Surely there must be mirrors in the locker room! Don’t you have parents or girlfriend (sic) who’ve told you those shoulder-length dreadlocks look disgusting and are certainly not attractive?

“We congratulate you on your game against Pitt, but you need to remember that you represent all Penn Staters, both current and those alumni from years past. We would welcome the re-appearance of dress codes for athletes.”

Franklin began his weekly press conference by reading an impassioned statement about his feelings on the letter without specifically mentioning it. It served as a counterpoint.

“The football that I know and love brings people together and embraces differences,” he said. “Black, white or brown; Catholic, Jewish or Muslim; rich or poor; rural or urban; Republican or Democrat; long hair, short hair or no hair; they are all in that locker room together.

“Teams all over this country are the purest form of humanity that we have. We don’t judge. We embrace differences. We live, we learn, we grow, we support and defend each other. We’re a family.”

Petersen’s letter prompted responses from Penn State’s official Twitter account and vice president of athletics Sandy Barbour, among others.

“We strongly condemn this,” Penn State’s tweet read.

Barbour tweeted her support of Sutherland and other Penn State athletes Tuesday.

“I stand with our Penn State student-athletes and appreciate how they represent PSU in competition, in the classroom and in the community,” Barbour wrote. “Their dress, tattoos or hairstyle has no impact on my support, nor does their gender, skin color, sexuality or religion!”

Several of his Penn State teammates offered their support to Sutherland.

“People have their opinions,” defensive end Shaka Toney said. “It doesn’t mean they’re always right. It’s one fan. Maybe he speaks for a few. I want everyone to make sure you don’t stand for things like that. You don’t have to publicly talk about it. Just don’t support stuff like hatred.

“People are going to look different. People are going to sound different. People are going to dress different. It shouldn’t be a concern.”

Defensive tackle Fred Hansard called Petersen’s letter “disturbing to read.”

“At the end of the day, that’s his opinion,” Hansard said. “We don’t agree with it. I’m behind Jonathan Sutherland and I’m his brother. I’m going to be his brother no matter what. That’s the end of it. I don’t even want to talk about it.”