Clemson Coach Says He Would Not Punish Players Who Stand in Solidarity with Colin Kaepernick

“No, I wouldn’t discipline my player for that. I think everyone has a right to express themselves….but i don’t think it’s good to be a distraction to your team.”

~Coach Dabo Swinney, Head Coach of Clemson Tigers

At a press conference today, Coach Dabo Swinney, head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina took a few moments to address the question about possible punishments for players who decide to kneel during the National Anthem. Colin Kaepernick has been making national headlines for his stance to sit during the national anthem as a symbolic protest against police brutality.

When Swinney was asked about issuing punishments for players who followed Kaepernick’s protest, he took some time to explain why he would not punish any of his players. Swinney feels that although he believes that what Kaepernick is a doing is a distraction to the team in its entirety, he would not punish a player who chose to do so because it is their right. He also explains how he hates what is going on in this country, discusses the leadership of Martin Luther King, and Jesus. Take a listen.