Use a quote that could be viewed as racist?

How is the quote racist?
Replace the word "black" with any other adjective. Would you run it then?
If yes, then go with it. It's accurate. Just because it's race doesn't make it bad.

 

If he's a sophomore in college, the blame is on him. Feel free to use it if it adds context to the story (have you detected a pattern of him being beaten like a drum by "little black guys"?), and be ready for him/his coach/his AD/his SID to be mad about it. And have it on tape.

 

Loved the Gundy reference.

 

Strict definitions is not the only thing to take into account. Most people who read something like that, with no audio to hear the tone and get a true sense of it, will take it a racist comment. Knowing that something you put in a story will not be represented the way it was meant is negligent reporting to me.