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Michael Rose-Ivey to meet with governor Pete Ricketts over anthem protest
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Michael Rose-Ivey delivered a powerful speech on Monday on why he kneeled during the national anthem during Saturday’s game against Northwestern.
Rose-Ivey was joined by two Nebraska teammates, all of whom were making a statement for mistreatment of African Americans by law enforcement. The Nebraska linebacker shared the hatred he and his family received and why he’s proud of the stance he took.
That message, of course, was not received openly by everyone.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts was among those opposed to Huskers kneeling during the anthem.
“I think the way they chose to protest was disgraceful and disrespectful,” Ricketts told a caller on his statewide radio call-in show earlier this week.
After hearing those comments, Rose-Ivey reached out to Ricketts via Twitter. The two agreed to meet to discuss their opposing views:
.@Rose_IveyNB15 Thanks for reaching out. Direct message me your information, and we will get something set up right away!
— Pete Ricketts (@PeteRicketts) September 28, 2016
Ricketts wasn’t the only prominent figure in Nebraska who voiced strong opposition to Rose-Ivey’s actions.
Nebraska Regent Hal Daub of Omaha caused quite the stir when he demanded the kneelers be booted from the program altogether.
“They don’t have to play football for the university either,” Daub told the Journal Star on Tuesday. “They know better, and they had better be kicked off the team.”
It remains to be seen if Rose-Ivey will try and schedule a meeting with Daub, as well.
Daub doesn’t appear quite as willing to hear Rose-Ivey’s side in the way that Ricketts is.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.