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Former University of Northern Alabama athlete Bradley Patterson is now apologizing for disrespecting President Barack Obama on Twitter.

Patterson tweeted a racially-offensive message on Sunday while President Barack Obama delivered a speech honoring victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting. The former football player was upset the speech interrupted the NFL football game Sunday night.

Shortly after he tweeted the message he received a call from his coach telling him he was no longer a part of the team.

Coach Mark Linder applauded the public for bringing awareness to the issue. He tweeted:

“Thx 2 everyone who brought it to our attention. @UNAAthletics does not condone. He is no longer a member of the team.”

UNA’s President Dr. William Cale found the message to be a disgrace to the school’s reputation.

“I want them to know I’m deeply saddened by what was done and the adverse impact it has on our university and probably him as an individual,” Cale said.

Patterson joined the team as a walk-on after their fourth game this season. His name was immediately removed from the team roster.

“I wasn’t planning on this happening; it just got too serious and out of hand,” Patterson said. “It really didn’t occur to me until I started thinking about it late last night that I realized what I got myself into, and I realized I couldn’t get myself out of it without at least asking for an apology,” he said.

Despite his comments, Patterson says he is not a racist.

“I just want them to know that I ain’t like that. I was raised better than that, and I just got in over my head,” he said. “I put that on Twitter. I can’t take it back, and it’s always going to be in the back of somebody’s mind that I said that, but I can’t make them forgive me.”

Patterson also expressed his apologies to his teammates and the Commander-in-Chief.

“I want to apologize to President Obama for my outbreak last night. What I said was uncalled for, but I didn’t even stop to think what he was saying before it was sent. If I could go back right now, I would change it. I wouldn’t hesitate to do so,” Patterson expressed.

In addition to his apology, Patterson also offered his prayers and thoughts to the victims who lost their lives in Newtown on Friday.

(Photo: AP)