The TransPerfect Music City Bowl cut ties Thursday with former Vanderbilt and NFL running back Zac Stacy as its ambassador after a video reportedly showed Stacy beating his former girlfriend in front of their 5-month-old son.
Stacy, 30, was named the Youth Football Ambassador earlier this month for the Dec. 30 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Stacy was the 2012 most valuable player of the bowl.
TMZ Sports reported Stacy, who rushed for a Vanderbilt record 3,143 career yards and 30 touchdowns, became upset while arguing with his ex-girlfriend, started swinging at her and then grabbed her off a couch and threw her into a flat-screen television.
The television fell on the woman as she tried to calm Stacy down.
Stacy fled the scene before police arrived.
Attempts by The Tennessean to contact Stacy were unsuccessful on Thursday. An automated message on Stacy’s phone stated the number was temporarily unavailable.
“Based on the video and domestic violence report regarding Zac Stacy, the TransPerfect Music City Bowl has terminated the relationship with Zac Stacy effective immediately,” the Music City Bowl said in a statement.
The TMZ report said the women filed a restraining order and alleged: “He punched me several times in the head! I begged him to stop because the baby was on the couch just a few feet from where he punched me.”
“He then picked me up and threw me into my TV. The TV began to fall and he turned to make sure I wasn’t getting up. As I laid on the floor he began to yell at me, telling me I’m destructive. He then picked me up off the floor and off my feet and body slammed me into our son’s bouncy seat.”
The woman also said in the order that she was hospitalized with bumps and bruises and a possible cut to her head.
Stacy played under former coaches Bobby Johnson, Robbie Caldwell and James Franklin at Vanderbilt.
Clark Lea, the Commodores’ current coach, called the videos “disturbing” on Thursday.
“We’re aware of the disturbing videos,” Lea said. “Obviously we absolutely condemn acts of domestic violence. The behavior has no place in our society and that’s really all I want to say about it. It’s disturbing.”.
Stacy was a fifth-round draft pick by the St. Louis Rams in 2013. He played two seasons with the Rams and one with the New York Jets. He rushed for a total of 1,355 yards and scored nine touchdowns.
Tennessean sports writer Aria Gerson contributed to this report.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
