On Saturday, three Nebraska football players continued the trend of players kneeling during the National Anthem. Thus far, the reaction has been mostly negative.
Nebraska senior linebacker Michael Rose-Ivey, who was one of the three players that knelt, told the media Monday about the racist feedback he’s been receiving since his decision prior to Nebraska’s game against Northwestern. A regent at Nebraska added fuel to the fire Tuesday by calling for these three players to be kicked off the team.
Hal Daub, the man behind this claim, spoke to the Lincoln Journal Star and had plenty of criticism for the three Husker players.
“It’s a free country. They don’t have to play football for the university either.
“They know better, and they had better be kicked off the team. They won’t take the risk to exhibit their free speech in a way that places their circumstance in jeopardy, so let them get out of uniform and do their protesting on somebody else’s nickel.”
Okay, Hal. First off, you bring up the idea of “free speech” and then quickly squash that idea about two words later. Last time I checked, these athletes have just as much of a first amendment right as you do, despite your difference in beliefs.
Nebraska head coach Mike Riley has had a much different tone than Daub when it comes to this issue.
“Obviously, this is a choice they have made for personal reasons and that’s the beautiful thing about the United States that they can do that.”
Whew. There is some rationality in Lincoln.
Prior to this regent’s decision to speak out, there were plenty in the public that were willing to tell these players what they thought. As Rose-Ivey pointed out, and to no one’s surprise, these threats were disgraceful and were threatening to these players’ lives.
Nebraska's Michael Rose-Ivey with a powerful statement in today's press conference. Says fans told him he should "be hung before the anthem" pic.twitter.com/NJjEMnUYhd
— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) September 26, 2016
Daub is definitely welcome to disagree with the players’ decision. However, trying to quash these players’ free speech and fire up the masses who were already attacking these players is ridiculous. Daub might want to consider the platform he has before opening his mouth next time.
