According to coach Buzz Williams the team will not be on the floor for the national anthem. Please don't get this thread locked by calling out individual players, for some reason we're not allowed to criticize people legal age even though they can call us racists.

[Actually, this is absolutely the correct place to discuss political/social topics related to our sports teams! Thank you for doing that here instead on the sports forums. - Moderator]

And they thought the stadium was empty before...

I honor their decision. I will return the favor by not being there to watch when they take the floor.

Buzz is in a tough spot. We know the kind of person he is.

I'm not overly concerned about it. I'm just glad we have someone like him that can coach basketball but also live out what he teaches to his players.

They are calling you racist by not being on floor for the national anthem?

AgSportsFan89 said:

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And they thought the stadium was empty before...

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Was just about to say:

Whole season is gonna be Holiday break weeknight game vs Northwest Central State Sisters of The Poor attendance wise

Probably the best course of action. Plausible deniability. People can come watch them play without watching some, none or all be unpatriotic a-holes.

I like this decision. Make it a non issue.

I don't have an issue with this change. The football team already does this, so there is precedent.

Well Buzz isn't going to allow any stupid "games" to be played during the national anthem, so this seems like a decent compromise at least until this latest moment passes us by.

I don't really give a &*#@ about basketball, so this is not really something I care to invest a lot of time or energy on anyway.

Girls did the same . The atmosphere in reed was not that good ( just my option )

Mr. AGSPRT04 said:

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I honor their decision. I will return the favor by not being there to watch when they take the floor.

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^^^^^^^

Odd that a military school won't have the players on the court honoring the flag during the national anthem.

Hard to cheer on' someone calling you a racist.

The irony of getting to do what you love, paid by someone else, in pursuit of a career that most everybody in this country can't even dream of, let alone the billions throughout the world, and believing oneself to be oppressed.

It just shocks me that Buzz can't provide these kids with the proper information. He seemed like the kinda guy that wouldn't put up with these falsehoods.

Please end college sports and the free rides. Not another dime!

F them all. Cut off all ties.

Not another dime.

It feels good instead of being a lemming tool

Just made my Sunday Funday decision making plans a lot easier.

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I honor their decision. I will return the favor by not being there to watch when they take the floor.

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You want to enlighten us on how many games you attended last year?

Buzz is all talk. The anthem display with VT was all show. When it actually became a little difficult, he ran for the hills.

Why are they still supposed to hate America? Trump is on his way out. Everything will be magically fixed by Biden now.

Not watching a single game this season, but I appreciate that he gave the information in advance.

Piss right off if you don't respect what the flag and our anthem stand for.

What a country.

Good luck team. Let me know when you're proud to be a part of yhis country and I will support that by being a fan again.

Are they still planning on wearing those dumbass jerseys?

Not sure how you go from this video to what is going on nowadays...

Personally I think the anthem is a good tradition but if players want to remain inside the locker room while it is played then fine too. I mean, at any football game or basketball game, how many fans are typically at the concessions and not paying attention anyways? A number of them. The concessions don't stop transactions inside Kyle or Reed during the anthem, right? Bunch of people are typically wandering around, not paying attention to it, right? so it seems to be pretty hypocritical to get on players for being in the locker room, IMO.

Pumpkinhead said:

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Personally I think the anthem is a good tradition but if players want to remain inside the locker room while it is played then fine too. I mean, at any football game or basketball game, how many fans are typically at the concessions and not paying attention anyways? A number of them. The concessions don't stop transactions inside Kyle or Reed during the anthem, right? Bunch of people are typically wandering around, not paying attention to it, right? so it seems to be pretty hypocritical to get on players for being in the locker room, IMO.

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Incorrect. At Reed Arena there is a full stop down of concessions during the Anthem and everyone I've ever seen in line look up at the screens in the lobby areas and stand, many of them singing with their hats off and hands over their heart.

Buzz is a coward.

It's absolutely garbage to not stand during the anthem. It's a **** you. That's what it is.

But it's a cowardly **** you as they still hold onto the benefits they have here the rest of the world doesn't.

We're not perfect. But ****, at least we try. Have empathy. If you can't find anything honorable about this country to stand for during the anthem, you're the damn problem.

So sick of this being treated like it's some kind of virtuous protest.

It's ignorant and childish, but totally legal. Ok. I guess Congrats on being the idiot flag burner not recognizing your celebrating what your protesting against.

As a Virginia Tech Alumn, I can tell you where Buzz stands on the National Anthem. As others have said, they can play to an empty arena.

Why do we as a nation continue to cater to these idiots. Just stop going, watching and buying their products and it will change. If they continue to alienate the people that drive the industry it will fall to pieces.

johnnyblaze36 said:

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Pumpkinhead said:

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Personally I think the anthem is a good tradition but if players want to remain inside the locker room while it is played then fine too. I mean, at any football game or basketball game, how many fans are typically at the concessions and not paying attention anyways? A number of them. The concessions don't stop transactions inside Kyle or Reed during the anthem, right? Bunch of people are typically wandering around, not paying attention to it, right? so it seems to be pretty hypocritical to get on players for being in the locker room, IMO.

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Incorrect. At Reed Arena there is a full stop down of concessions during the Anthem and everyone I've ever seen in line look up at the screens in the lobby areas and stand, many of them singing with their hats off and hands over their heart.

Buzz is a coward.

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Thanks for that info. Do they do that at Kyle too? All stop on all concessions?

southernboy1 said:

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Why do we as a nation continue to cater to these idiots. Just stop going, watching and buying their products and it will change. If they continue to alienate the people that drive the industry it will fall to pieces.

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You are right and it is already starting to show cracks. The sports world will change dramatically over the next decade. They have flown to close to the sun and will crash and burn. They just don't know it yet.