Nebraska Gov. to Meet Husker Who Protested Anthem

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, who said earlier this week that the decision by three Nebraska football players to kneel during the national anthem was “disgraceful and disrespectful,” plans to meet with one of the players.

In a tweet Tuesday night, Ricketts accepted a proposal for a meeting by Michael Rose-Ivey, who knelt during the national anthem with teammates DaiShon Neal and Mohamed Barry before the Cornhuskers’ game at Northwestern.

.@Rose_IveyNB15 Thanks for reaching out. Direct message me your information, and we will get something set up right away!

— Gov. Pete Ricketts (@GovRicketts) September 28, 2016

The Governor’s Office will provide further details about the meeting, Taylor Gage, Ricketts’ spokesman, told the Omaha World-Herald.

Ricketts made his comments while responding to a caller during his weekly radio show on Monday.

“Generations of men and women have died to give them that right to protest,” Ricketts said. “I think the way they chose to protest was disgraceful and disrespectful.”

Nebraska Husker players kneel during the national anthem before today's game. pic.twitter.com/8KbyxOSHXJ

— ✭Eric✭ (@EBSportsGaming) September 25, 2016

Related: Anthem Protests Continue at College Football Games

The protest also drew criticism from two university regents, Hal Daub and Jim Pillen. Daub said the three players should be kicked off the team for their actions.

“They know better, and they had better be kicked off the team,” Daub told the Lincoln Journal-Star. “They won’t take the risk to exhibit their free speech in a way that places their circumstance in jeopardy, so let them get out of uniform and do their protesting on somebody else’s nickel.”

Rose-Ivey, a senior linebacker from Kansas City, Mo., addressed the issue Monday before reporters, detailing the threats he has received since the protest. Here is a clip of Rose-Ivey describing those threats, along with the entire press conference he held on Monday. (Warning: Some of the comments are graphic):

Nebraska's Michael Rose-Ivey with a powerful statement in today's press conference. Says fans told him he should "be hung before the anthem" pic.twitter.com/NJjEMnUYhd

— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) September 26, 2016

University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds and head coach Mike Riley support the players.

“College campuses, as much as any space, must be places where robust, even uncomfortable, debate is welcomed and encouraged,” Bounds said. “Our students, faculty and staff absolutely enjoy the right to participate in these dialogues in the manner they choose under the First Amendment and board policy.”

Riley said after the game, “Obviously, this is a choice they have made for personal reasons and that’s the beautiful thing about the United States that they can do that.”

NU president says he defends Husker players' right to kneel during national anthem https://t.co/Z6hv0GK0KP pic.twitter.com/qiORthbO33

— Omaha World-Herald (@OWHnews) September 28, 2016

Rose-Ivey’s father, Michael A. Rose, said in a tweet that he is appreciative that his son has the support of Riley and the coaching staff.

If any parent has reservations about their kid playing football for the #Huskers, to ease your mind, focus on @Coach_Riley & staff #Class

— Michael A. Rose (@marosekcmo) September 28, 2016

{module Anthem plan}