The Yale men's basketball team has issued an apology in the wake of a controversy after players wore warm-up T-shirts in support of former team captain Jack Montague, who left the team last month amid questionable circumstances.
Yale players, before a nationally televised game two weeks ago against Harvard, donned practice shirts that featured Montague's nickname and jersey number.
"Our recent actions to show our support for one of our former teammates were not intended to suggest otherwise, but we understand that to many students they did," Yale said in a statement. "As student representatives of Yale we hope to use our positions on and off the court in a way that can make everyone proud."
Montague, the team's fourth-leading scorer with 9.7 points per game, has not played since scoring 16 points in Yale's 83-52 win over Cornell on Feb. 6. Montague's family has said he was expelled, with the school only stating he would not return for the rest of the season.
Despite Montague's absence, Yale won the Ivy League title, advancing to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 54 years.
The news release stood as the first comments the team made over the controversy.
"Yale Men's Basketball fully supports a healthy, safe and respectful campus climate where all students can flourish," Wednesday's statement said.
According to reports, police say Montague does not face criminal charges in New Haven and that there is no active investigation involving him.
Montague's father told the New Haven Register he relished the opportunity to disclose the reason for his son's dismissal from Yale.
"Soon enough," Jim Montague said. "I'd love to tell the other side of the story. It's ridiculous why he's expelled."
Information from ESPN's Myron Medcalf was used in this report.
