Ferentz shares his view on protesting during National Anthem
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz was asked on Tuesday how he would respond if a player or multiple players on his team felt a need to protest during the National Anthem.
“That’s a really tricky topic, as we all know,” Ferentz said to reporters. “I would hope they’d come to me and let’s talk about it first. My preference, I’m not saying it’s a mandate, my preference is that we all be unified, be it our uniforms on the field, how we do things, certainly how we stand for the National Anthem. That would be my preference. But that’s in a perfect world.”
Eyes are now focused on the National Anthem at sporting events as NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick
continues to kneel during the playing of the National Anthem. He has since been joined by several other NFL players who are either kneeling or sitting during the playing of the National Anthem before games.
The protests have triggered a national debate about whether it is right to voice your opinion that way.
Kaepernick said his reason for protesting is to draw attention and show support for people of color who he feels are are being oppressed in the United States, and to make a stand against police brutality.
“The biggest thing is I’d hope we could have some discussion, and a national commentary,” Ferentz said. “I’d like to think there are better ways to voice how we feel about things.”