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National anthem protest debates comes to Northern Nevada

Jim Krajewski
Reno Gazette-Journal
Although it has not happened in Northern Nevada this year, yet, athletes taking a knee during the National Anthem before games is a heavily debated topic, in Northern Nevada and nationwide.


Although it has not happened in Northern Nevada this year, yet, athletes taking a knee during the national anthem before games is a heavily debated topic, in Northern Nevada and nationwide.

Hug football coach Carl LaGrone Jr., said that last season one or two players took a knee during the anthem, but so far this year, no one has.

The issue is becoming about team unity.

LaGrone said that if a Hug athlete wanted to take a knee during the anthem, the team would talk about it and either all would do it, or none.

“If guys want to take a knee, that’s up to them,” LaGrone said. “We talk through things as a team. If our team says they all want to kneel, then we’ll all take a knee. We don’t do individual things, we’re a unit, so nobody is being ostracized, nobody is being singled out.”

Blair Roman, the Carson athletic director and football coach, said there has not been any discussion of a protest by any Carson athletes. 

“However, students do have the right to express themselves as a First Amendment right within the bounds of school and NIAA policy,” Roman wrote in an email to the RGJ. “If I had a player who wanted to protest, I would want to be informed as a coach of what they are protesting, why, and how it will positively impact their position. To me, it's part of the learning process of being a high school student and growing up.”

Roman said countless Americans of all races have served to protect the country, including the right to play football, and that the national anthem should not be used as a protest.

He said high school football is a game, with positive outcomes, and social equality is a positive, ingrained part of the game.

Policies on anthem protests will be left up to schools and coaches.


“There is a saying in football that I believe to be the case, is that in a huddle, there is no race or social inequality,” Roman wrote.

He said that at the pro level, football is a business and entertainment, and much different than high school sports. He said NFL players and coaches have every right to protest as they see fit, and that President Donald Trump has the right to criticize the protests.

“Everyone in our country these days needs to take a step back and not get your feelings so hurt every time someone protests like Colin Kaepernik did, or when Donald Trump spoke out against it,” Roman wrote. “If it wasn't for our military veterans and countless others who have served this country to preserve our way of life, we wouldn't even be playing football maybe, why disrespect that with protesting the national anthem, there has to be another way to protest that isn't so divisive overall.”

Last year, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took to one knee during the national anthem when he played for the San Francisco 49ers, in protest of police brutality against black Americans. His action led to loud disapproval.

The movement began when Kaepernick remained seated during The Star-Spangled Banner before the start of a pre-season game in August 2016. At the time, he said his protest was intended to be a call for action against oppression and how minorities are treated by police.

Douglas football coach Ernie Monfiletto said his players voted unanimously to stand for the anthem.

The issue sparked a lively debate on the RGJpreps Facebook page this week.

Some commenters said students probably have no idea what the act of taking a knee during the anthem symbolizes, while others said young athletes do, indeed, understand the topic.

One parent said she would be OK with it, as long as her child understood why she was doing it.

High school athletes taking a knee during the anthem has happened elsewhere in the country in several sports, according to reports, and one commenter on Facebook said he expects it will happen in Nevada this season. 

Damonte Ranch football coach Shawn Dupris said there is no school policy about the issue, but that he expects it will be discussed soon.

Sparks football coach Brad Rose also said the Railroaders have no policy about taking a knee during the anthem.

“However, we have had to discuss that as a coaching staff this week due to the recent events, and questions from our athletes,” Rose wrote in an email to the RGJ.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association has no rule, statement or position on the subject. Assistant director Donnie Nelson said the NIAA leaves any policy on it up to schools, districts and coaches.

The issue is heating up in prep sports nationally.

The Washington Post reported that a high school in Louisiana announced it will punish students with suspensions or removal from sports teams if they demonstrate during the national anthem.

The Washoe County School District policy says  that a school district should avoid compelling athletes to stand during the National Anthem.


There have not been any reports of students kneeling during the anthem this year in Nevada