USC's Anthony Brown calls football coach racist
EXPOSITION PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- USC senior Anthony Brown who quit the football team a week ago took to social media Thursday to call head coach Steve Sarkisian a racist.
Brown posted on Instagram, "Sark treated me like a slave in his Office...Can't play for a racist MAN!!!!! #Fighton" and posted a similar message on Facebook.
The 23-year-old later deleted the posts.
Sarkisian said the comments took him by surprise and that Brown never expressed those feelings when they met earlier this week. Brown quit the team last Thursday, he said.
"As far as what (Brown) said on Twitter, I think it's ridiculous," Sarkisian said. "Any of you guys that know me and if you ask anybody in our building, any of our players - feel free to - that's about the furthest thing from the truth. Quite honestly, I'm shocked."
Brown was sidelined most of training camp due to a hyperextended elbow. He was switched from cornerback to running back earlier this month.
"He unfortunately got injured in training camp and was working his way back and decided he didn't want to play anymore. It's a bit unfortunate because we could have used him. We think he could have helped us," Sarkisian said.
ESPN contributed to this report.
