Athletes of color on the University of Missouri's football team will no longer be participating in any “football related activities” until the President of the University of Missouri system, Tim Wolfe, either resigns or is removed from office “due to his negligence toward marginalized students’ experiences.”
The message was shared on Twitter Saturday night by sophomore defensive back Anthony Sherrils. It was accompanied by a photo that showed Jonathan Butler, a student who is on day six of a hunger strike against Wolfe, standing in solidarity with the students of color on the football team.
We're black. Black is powerful. Our struggle may look different, but we are all #ConcernedStudent1950 pic.twitter.com/obCjSWCFVY
— HeMadeAKing (@1Sherrils_2MIZZ) November 8, 2015
The university's athletic department released a statement via Twitter in response to the black football players' strike.
STATEMENT (1): The department of athletics is aware of the declarations made tonight by many of our student-athletes.
— Mizzou Athletics (@MizzouAthletics) November 8, 2015
(2): We must come together with leaders from across our campus to tackle these challenging issues and we support our athletes right to do so
— Mizzou Athletics (@MizzouAthletics) November 8, 2015
Head football coach, Gary Pinkel, tweeted his support Sunday morning.
The Mizzou Family stands as one. We are united. We are behind our players. #ConcernedStudent1950 GP pic.twitter.com/fMHbPPTTKl
— Coach Gary Pinkel (@GaryPinkel) November 8, 2015
An athletics department spokesman sent a statement from Mack Rhoades and Gary Pinkel to KBIA Sunday afternoon.
Today, Sunday, there will be no football practice or formal team activities. 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. After meeting with the team this morning, it is clear they do not plan to return to practice until Jonathan resumes eating. We are continuing to have department, campus, and student meetings as we work through this issue and will provide further comment tomorrow afternoon.
Gov. Jay Nixon also released a statement:
Racism and intolerance have no place at the University of Missouri or anywhere in our state. Our colleges and universities must be havens of trust and understanding.These concerns must be addressed to ensure the University of Missouri is a place where all students can pursue their dreams in an environment of respect, tolerance and inclusion.
This story will be updated as KBIA receives new information.
Update: Added statement from Chad Moller, athletics department spokesman.
Update: The following addresses the news conference given by MU head football coach Gary Pinkel and MU Athletic Director Mack Rhoades Monday afternoon.
Mizzou Football Coach Gary Pinkel said Monday he stands by his decision to support his players after they announced they would not participate in practices or games until Tim Wolfe resigned as UM System president.
MU Athletic Director Mack Rhoades and Pinkel addressed the circumstances surrounding the boycott during a previously scheduled news conference Monday afternoon. Unlike previous media days, players were not available for comment, a decision Pinkel says was the players’ own.
Pinkel said he sees himself as a father to his players and said the discussions with his players revolved around saving Jonathan Butler’s life, not former UM System President Tim Wolfe losing his job.
“They asked me if I’d support them and I said I would. I didn’t look at consequences, that wasn’t about it at the time. It was about helping my players and supporting my players when they needed me and I did the right thing and I would do it again,” Pinkel said.
Rhoades said the athletic department and its student athletes have the responsibility to act as leaders for the university.
“We have some issues on this campus, we have some issues in our athletic department and we need to face those head on and resolve them, and we’ve got a lot of smart people in our athletic department and a lot of caring people and that certainly starts with our student athletes and we can be leaders in helping resolve some of the social issues,” Rhoades said.
After Wolfe’s resignation, Pinkel said football practice will resume tomorrow and players are looking forward to their game against Brigham Young University on Saturday.
