Nick Saban has finally weighed in on the matter of athletes protesting police brutality and racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem.
Saban was hosting his weekly radio show on Thursday evening and was asked by a caller claiming to be a military veteran whether he would welcome back former Alabama players on the sidelines if they didn’t stand for the national anthem.
The Alabama Crimson Tide head coach said he didn’t think the protests were meant to disrespect the military or the flag and that he respects the players’ rights and freedoms.
Saban said he in no way thinks the protests are meant to disrespect veterans or the flag. Said he respects the player's rights and freedoms
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) September 29, 2017
Saban is the most prominent figure in college football, which hasn’t been impacted with the social movement the way the NFL has. Nonetheless, Saban is looked upon and asked about his views because he is an influential leader and trend-setter in the sport, so what he says has a great impact.
And he is correct in saying the protests are not meant to disrespect veterans or the flag; the players who have knelt have said that. The problem is many Americans do not listen to that message and are enraged at the actions of the players who kneel, which has resulted in a major conflict that’s front-and-center in the sports world.
