By Ken Reed
University of Missouri president Tim Wolfe has resigned amid protests on the Missouri campus regarding his handling of racially-charged incidents. The protests included a hunger strike by a Missouri student, boycott of all football activities by Missouri football players, and a call for a class walkout by Missouri professors.
Dan Wetzel, in my opinion the best sports columnist in the United States, had a great take on the situation at Mizzou in his Sunday column.
While admitting he didn’t know all the particulars of the situation at the University of Missouri, he praised the football players for being engaged college students and getting involved in campus issues, rather than choosing isolation and seclusion in the school’s football facility.
“The athletes of color on the University of Missouri football team truly believe ‘Injustice Anywhere is a threat to Justice Everywhere,'” the football players said in a statement.
“We will no longer participate in any football related activities until President Tim Wolfe resigns or is removed due to his negligence toward marginalized students’ experiences.”
Missouri football coach, Gary Pinkel, supported his players and canceled all football activities on Sunday.
“The Mizzou Family stands as one,” Pinkel wrote. “We are united. We are behind our players.”
Without praising their actions directly, Wetzel praised the players’ and Pinkel’s involvement and courage to stand up for what they believe is right.
“Good that the (Missouri) players feel they can act like college students should – free to participate in campus protest if they choose,” wrote Wetzel. “And it’s a good thing their coach is willing to support them, that they aren’t just hired guns, and winning games isn’t their sole purpose for being in school.
“The Missouri players are part of the fray, part of the place. They may be right. They may be wrong. They may be imprecise. They may one day look back with pride. They may one day look back with embarrassment. It doesn’t matter because that’s college. That’s exactly what college is supposed to be, even if you’re a big-shot football player. Maybe even especially.”
Right on Dan Wetzel. And right on Missouri football players and Coach Gary Pinkel.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans
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