University Of Missouri Head Coach Says He Supports Black Football Players

University Of Missouri Head Coach Says He Supports Black Football Players

A large group of Black Missouri football players have refused to play for the University until system president Tim Wolfe resigns or is fired, according to Missouri’s Legion of Black Collegians Saturday night.

The coaching staff and faculty now say they will support the players in their efforts to get the president to resign according to Fox News.

The latest actions came just over 24 hours after more than two dozen football players at the school drew national attention to the protests by announcing that they would not participate in team activities until University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe is removed.

“The athletes of color on the University of Missouri football team truly believe ‘Injustice Anywhere is a threat to Justice Everywhere,'” the 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’ experience. WE ARE UNITED!!!!!”

It was not immediately clear what the football players’ statement would mean for the university’s next game Saturday against Brigham Young University. The game is scheduled to be played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, and canceling it could cost the school more than $1 million.

Head football coach Gary Pinkel says he supports his players during their protest by posting this photo on Twitter:

Practice and other team activities were canceled Sunday, Pinkel and Missouri athletic director Mack Rhoades said in a joint statement. The statement linked the return of the protesting football players to the end of the hunger strike by Jonathan Butler, who began the effort Nov. 2 and has vowed to not eat until Wolfe is gone.

“Our focus right now is on the health of Jonathan Butler, the concerns of our student-athletes and working with our community to address this serious issue,” the statement said.

The university’s Board of Curators announced late Sunday that it would meet Monday at 10 a.m. CST. According to an agenda provided in the statement, part of the meeting will be closed to the public.

This is the video of Missouri’s President giving a questionable response to a group of students and protesters:

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