High school coaches have mixed feelings about national anthem protests
Bartram football coach Jim Chapman has a father who served in the military. West Philadelphia coach Frank Steed served 28 years with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Bartram football coach Jim Chapman has a father who served in the military.
West Philadelphia coach Frank Steed served 28 years with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Mastery North coach John Davidson has family and friends who have served in the armed forces and as police officers.
After players and coaches from Woodrow Wilson - a public school in Camden - took a knee during the national anthem before a game last weekend, coaches in Southeast Pennsylvania talked about he issue.
Wilson coach Preston Brown said after his game that he, like San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who kickstarted the controversy, was trying to make a statement about "oppression" and "social injustice."
Davidson, who grew up in New York, said he talked with his players and coaches Monday.
"I have very mixed feelings about it," Davidson said. "I recognize I represent my team as a head coach. I represent Mastery as an employee/staff member and a coach. Most importantly I represent my family. But I am also a black man."
At the Pumas' next home game on Sept. 24, Davidson said his team will likely lock arms during the national anthem. In addition, he said, "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," commonly referred to as the the black national anthem, is to be played.
The locking of arms mirrors what Seattle Seahawks players did during Week 1 of NFL action last weekend. Kaepernick had already sparked national debate after choosing not to stand for the anthem during the NFL preseason.
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick said.
The School District of Philadelphia said in a statement that it "does not have a policy on players and coaches with regard to the national anthem."
The statement, in an email from spokesperson Lee Whack, also said, "We believe our student-athletes should display good sportsmanship and respect others on the field of play and everywhere else. At the same time, it is important that each student knows they have freedom of expression and the right to exercise [their] own beliefs."
When approached by his players, West Philadelphia's Steed said he challenged them to have a conversation and not just react "because the pros are doing it."
Davidson said he also prodded his players to do research.
In all, 10 of the 28 Public League football coaches were contacted, and each said they welcomed any conversations with their players. However, the national anthem is not required to be played before Public League games.
Earlier this month, the Diocese of Camden said in a note sent to school administrators and coaches that players or coaches who don't "demonstrate appropriate respect" during the national anthem will be subject to a two-game suspension, and anyone with subsequent offenses would be subject to removal from the team.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has issued no such policy about the national anthem and school sporting events, spokesman Ken Gavin said in an email.
Tommy Coyle, Penn Charter's football coach, said the topic hasn't been discussed by his team but believes his players have had discussions in classes at the school. Penn Charter, a Quaker institution, does not play the anthem before sporting events.
Haverford School coach Michael Murphy said his team had an internal discussion about the topic in general but that no directives were issued by him, the Inter-Ac League or the school. He said he did request that players who felt moved to act have a conversation with him beforehand. None have so far.
Bartram's Chapman has yet to be approached by his players, he said, but he has an "open-door policy."
"I can't say which way is right," he said. "I feel very strongly about the anthem. My dad was a colonel in the army. But at the end of the day everybody is entitled to their own opinion."
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