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National Anthem uproar met with peaceful nightUPDATE: Brainerd players, administrators knew nothing of coach's protest plan, superintendent says Greeson: Hamilton County commissioner wants Brainerd coach removed if protest transpiresWiedmer: Is Brainerd protest about to become rule rather than exception?
Friday night football started as it usually does in Jasper, Tenn., with a drum line, cheesy nachos and stands full of fans screaming themselves hoarse.
The Brainerd Panthers had come to play the Marion County Warriors and both sides expected a good game but some spectators were wary of a national controversy that seemed to have invaded their own small communities over the last two days.
Following the decision by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick to protest social injustice by taking a knee during the national anthem several weeks ago, Brainerd football coach Brian Gwyn discussed the issue.
On Thursday, Gwyn said he and each of the Panthers players would stand for the national anthem, bow their heads and place their closed right fists over their hearts before Friday's game.
"That's the symbol of black power, and I think that's a fitting way to make a statement about this issue and do it in a way that we're united together," Gwyn told the Times Free Press on Thursday.
"Let's be honest, there is still racism in our country, and we need to shed light on it and make it so that that changes for the next generation."
However, Brainerd principal Uras Agee said on Friday there would be no protest and added that Gwyn did not get approval from school officials.
In fact, Agee made the decision with Marion County principal Sherry Prince to have members of the Brainerd JROTC present the colors before the national anthem in a display of solidarity.
"We were together in the decision," Agee said.
Both football teams remained in their respective locker rooms during the performance of the national anthem and the only disturbance was from a Marion County fan who yelled, "Get on your feet," across the field, apparently speaking to a group of Brainerd fans who remained seated.
Marion County superintendent Mark Griffith said the man was stopped by an assistant superintendent and school resource officer who escorted the man off the premises.
Griffith said the man caused an "unsettling situation" by yelling "derogatory language."
The game went on as usual, but fans still had strong feelings about even the suggestion of a protest like Kaepernick's at a high school football game.
"It's just disrespectful," said Andrea Rogers, an employee at the nearby R&J Snack Shack. "What [service members] do for us, they do for him, too."
She said, "If I had a son on the team, I'd tell him, 'you're not playing.'"
Shaun Stewart was sitting on the opposite side of the field in the guest bleachers and said people, high school football players included, should be free to protest if they want to.
"It's not a law that you have to stand up and pledge to the flag. This is America."
Stewart said he is a veteran and added that he believes Kaepernick's protest is not intended to disrespect the military, but is instead a critique of systemic social injustice.
"People need to listen to what others are saying before they go over the edge," he said. "People need to focus on the reason behind the protest."
Prior to the game, Jill Levine, the chief academic officer for Hamilton County Schools said students may exercise their First Amendment rights.
"Kids have protested before, in different ways and different places around different issues. Far be it from us to try to quash anyone's First Amendment rights, but we can't use our position as employees of the district to push our own political agendas."
Levine declined to comment on whether Gwyn will face any discipline, saying the investigation is ongoing.
Kirk Kelly, Hamilton County Schools interim superintendent, also issued a statement Friday, saying: "Teachers and coaches are entitled to their personal views on matters of public concern. However, they are not permitted to use their position as school system employees as a platform to express those views, nor are they permitted to use their position as authority figures to impress those views on students."
Staff writers Stephen Hargis and Judy Walton contributed to this story.
Contact staff writer Emmett Gienapp at egienapp@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6731. Follow on Twitter @emmettgienapp.