UO football player Colt Lyerla tweets controversial conspiracy theory about Sandy Hook shooting

Colt Lyerla scores a touchdown in the Ducks' 59-17 win over California Nov. 10. (Tess Freeman/Emerald)

Colt Lyerla scores a touchdown in the Ducks' 59-17 win over California Nov. 10. (Tess Freeman/Emerald)

Posted by McKenna Brown on Thursday, Mar. 21 at 10:46 am.

Update: The athletic department released the following statement concerning Lyerla’s tweets:

“Twitter posts attributed to student-athlete Colt Lyerla concerning the tragedy at Sandy Hook are insensitive and offensive, especially those devastated by the shootings, and we have communicated as much to Colt. Though the University of Oregon Department of Athletics as well as the football program have social media expectations in place for our student-athletes, at times, personal opinions go well beyond what we expect from our students. The University of Oregon and Department of Athletics understand that our young men and women have a great deal of freedom of expression on social media but with that freedom comes responsibility. Our prayers and thoughts continue to be with the families of Sandy Hook.”

***

Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla created a stir on Twitter Thursday morning after he tweeted a YouTube link that suggests the Sandy Hook shooting was done by the U.S. government. The video also advocates for the second amendment and the right to own assault weapons.

 

 

When pressed by another Twitter user, Lyerla laid out his opinion plainly:

 

 

Lyerla retweeted a few Twitter users who appeared to agree with his point of view. Lyerla and Twitter user @anhyzerroc argued for over an hour about the validity of his claims.



  • Even Prouder Duck

    I didn’t know I was reading TMZ?

  • Tmath02

    It’s an opinion. This is fucking retarded. Look up some facts and tell me colts wrong smh. Open up your eyes.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Scott-Duke/100000487357794 Scott Duke

      colts wrong.

  • Seth

    It’s his life to do with as he chooses. The athletic department doesn’t own his mind. Do some real journalism if you want respect.

    • guest

      They do own the brunt of his decisions if this hits Deadspin. “The parents of the kids that supposedly died in the sandy hook situation are liars,” is the kind of statement that can horribly tarnish a reputation of a program. They never claimed to say he can’t say these things, just “Department of Athletics understand that our young men and women have a great deal of freedom of expression on social media but with that freedom comes responsibility.”

      I think that’s an incredibly reasonable position for a multimillion dollar organization to take on something as unreasonable as a tweet saying essentially “The parents of kids who died months ago are liars.”

  • Disgusting

    I didn’t know the Daily Emerald was in the business of outright smear campaigns now.

    • http://www.facebook.com/keithappleby Keith Appleby

      I did.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Scott-Duke/100000487357794 Scott Duke

    what an idiot

  • Brentuan

    Lyerla is correct. What’s wrong with speaking truth? Good for him. Freedom of speech. And if you think Lyerla is wrong, try proving it by doing your research, not by simply listening to mainstream media.

    • http://www.facebook.com/keithappleby Keith Appleby
    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nigel-Wagner/1157589020 Nigel Wagner

      brentuan colt is wrtong you and him is a window licker and both are retards and stupid you guys don’t know how those family feel because you aren’t them get evidence backing up your words or shut your mouth there is such thing as slander you guys i hope .

  • LG

    Now freedom of speech is under assault??

    • Sinister

      You are a freaking complete moron. Freedom of speech can only be infringed upon by our government against it’s people. The US government has NOTHING to do with the universities reaction nor it’s opinion. Freedom of speech is not in danger here, your intelligence is.

  • hoboduck

    I wonder if anyone hear actually watched the “whole” video. I did and it does raise some interesting questions.

  • ReggiePDX

    He’s entitled to his “opinion”- no matter how delusional, insane or ridiculously ignorant. However, as a member of an official OU approved entity, he does have a responsibility of NOT embarrassing the school by acting like a certifiable whack-job or “tin-hat wearing” conspiracy theorist. He did BOTH and was appropriately censured.

  • LG

    Get a clue sinister, ur the ignoramus!!! Get ur head out of ur hole!

  • NoMercy

    Farts

  • Chris Wahlstrom

    How is this any different than people who question the 9/11 commission report, or the warren commission report, or the reason we invaded Iraq? It’s called the first amendment, and it doesn’t only apply to only one political viewpoint…

  • al

    It’s not that he has an opinion it’s that while he’s a student at ou he represents the school when he does something like this. The school doesn’t have to like or dislike his comments but it’s still reflects on the school whether good or bad. Crazy talk about one of the most horrific acts ever committed in our country’s history brings unwanted negative attention to the athletic department. And might piss off uncle phil! ANY school or pro team would do the same thing ou did by releasing a statement about it. Classless move by him.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nigel-Wagner/1157589020 Nigel Wagner

    people believe this window lickers of colt lyerla tweets about sandy hook shooting that the u.s. goverment was in behind it this kid beats his own mother people that comments here and believes his lies needs their head examie and they are stupid and retard has he is don’t believe this punks lies or thoughs about this issue he has no business or right to tweet this stuff when the family of the sand hook shooting happen on dec of last year and the us goverment gets done with him he will be sitting in prison for slander for a every long time.

  • http://www.facebook.com/oop.moonster Oop Moonster

    Guys an idiot