SJSU Football Player Camdan McWright Killed After Crashing Scooter into School Bus
Oct 21, 2022
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 15: A San Jose State helmet rests on a team bench during the Hula Bowl college football game on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at the UCF Bounce House Stadium in Orlando, FL (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
San Jose State running back Camdan McWright died Friday after colliding with a school bus while riding an electric scooter. He was 18.
Austin Turner of the Mercury News reported McWright was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to ABC 7 Bay Area, the San Jose Police Department said none of the 14 students who were on the school bus were injured.
The accident is under investigation, although police said the bus had a green light and the right of way at the time of the accident. The university said in a statement it is "working cooperatively with the San Jose Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, SJSU University Police Department, SJSU Student Affairs and SJSU Athletics."
"We lost an amazing young man tragically this morning," head coach Brent Brennan said. "Camdan had a bright future ahead of him and everyone in this community that had the opportunity to spend time with him knew that. We are still trying to deal with the news of this tragedy, and appreciate everyone's support during these difficult times. Our thoughts and prayers are with the McWright family and I want them to know we are all here for them. Camdan will always be in our hearts and he will be profoundly missed."
McWright joined San Jose State as a 3-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He appeared in one game during the 2022 season and posted six yards on three carries in the Oct. 7 victory over UNLV.
The Spartans are 4-2 and scheduled to play at New Mexico State on Saturday.
San Jose State Retires 'Spartan Up' Gesture Resembling White Supremacist Symbol
Jun 21, 2020
PULLMAN, WA - SEPTEMBER 08: A San Jose State Spartans helmet sets on the field during the game against the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Pullman, Washington. Washington State defeated San Jose State 31-0. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
San Jose State University announced it's retiring its "Spartan Up" hand gesture as part of a series of actions to address anti-Black racism.
University president Dr. Mary A. Papazian cited the gesture's similarity to "what has become a well-known White Power hand gesture."
Athletics director Marie Tuite also issued a statement on the measure:
"We all agree that the gesture has become part of the fabric and footprint of our University, however when the gesture is used improperly, it can be offensive to some members of our University family. When our 'Spartan Up' hand gesture was misinterpreted as an 'okay' sign and not the proper gesture, the improper sign created a division in our campus community. It was timely and appropriate to make the decision to no longer use the hand gesture associated with 'Spartan Up.'"
The Southern Poverty Law Center's David Neiwert wrote in September 2018 that white nationalists had begun to co-opt the once-benign hand signal. The purpose was "both to signal their presence to the like-minded, as well as to identify potentially sympathetic recruits among young trolling artists flashing it."
"Spartan Up" dates back to 1990, when a former marching band director suggested band members, cheerleaders and fans should bring their thumb and forefinger together to form what looked like a spartan's helmet.
The retirement of "Spartan Up" comes as Americans across the country are demonstrating to call for meaningful reforms to root out systemic racism and social inequality.
UNLV announced earlier this month it was removing the statue of its mascot, Hey Reb!, that was stationed outside of the school's alumni center.
The NCAA has also banned all championship events in states that fly the Confederate flag, a policy that only applies to Mississippi for the time being. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey recently said the conference might reconsider staging championship events in Mississippi if the state doesn't change its official flag.
