Emmitt Smith Blasts University of Florida: 'They Really Don’t Have Best Interest at Heart.'

“When I see them destroying DEI for the sake of politics…it’s not even common sense,” Smith said in an interview with USA TODAY Sports. “This is just sheer out of spite and sheer power.

“At the end of the day, this country was built on people fighting for what is right for everybody, not just a select few. And with that fight, and with the University of Florida being as visible as it is, it irked me.

“,,,Because I remember the time when our president at the university would stand up and say, ‘Nah, we’re the University of Florida. We’re going to be here a lot longer than you, (Governor) Ron DeSantis; a lot longer than you, Jeb Bush; we’re going to be here a lot longer than any other governor that tries to push something of this magnitude down the throats of so many Americans and so many Florida citizens.’ To me, that’s a problem.”

At the heart of Smith’s willingness to be a public face in protest of DEI elimination is his personal stake in the university and its culture.

“One, being an alumnus and having contributed as much as I did on the football field and to walk away with a University of Florida degree and feeling I’m a part of the university from afar, and still at heart, I was extremely disappointed,” Smith, who previously spoke out against the removal of the controversial programs, added. “Because when I was in college, and everywhere I’ve been, they always talked about leadership…and how we needed to become leaders – especially athletes.”

Smith Says Impact Extends Beyond Sports

Smith, who has had great success in real estate since his NFL career came to end, sees the ripples of DEI elimination extend far beyond the sports arena.

“There’s a lot of talk, a lot of rhetoric, and I’ve seen how some of this stuff works,” Smith said. “I’ve seen where you have infrastructure projects around the DFW area, and the same four major companies are the lead construction folks on those sites. The limitations that minority companies have is not only working capital but also the capacity to get on those jobs.”

Smith then offered a word of advice (and warning) to those young men and women considering their college options.

“If you are going to go to a university, make sure you go to one that’s open-minded,” Smith advised. “Don’t always think about yourself. And when you think about others, think about the decision the University of Florida just made when it comes down to the DEI program. It could impact your family. It could impact your father and mother, your sister or your homie that’s starting a business, who wants to do business in the state of Florida.”

“So, tell me, University of Florida, where have you grown?”

Smith would close out his offensive with a few direct shots at his alma mater.

“That’s a problem for the university and a problem for every student-athlete that comes through there,” Smith blasted. “Because they really don’t have their best interest at heart. They only want you to do one thing for them, and that is to generate excitement and enthusiasm all around sports and entertainment, to help them raise capital so they can continue to build monuments around there of people that don’t look like you or I.”

“So, tell me, University of Florida, where have you grown?” Smith said. “Outside of just taking advantage of the successes that Urban Meyer had on the football field, the successes that Steve Spurrier had on the football field, the successes the basketball team had with Joakim Noah and all those guys when they won the national championship. Built up all this stuff around the university, yet you refused to address the biggest issue: How can we get minority enrollment up?

“How can we help our other African American and Latino students around the country get into this great university? To me, taking that DEI component away says you get to make all the decisions you want and not include people who can also have a significant impact on the university.”