DECATUR – Millikin University student and football team member Connor Brewer was featured in Fox News commentator Todd Starnes national column Monday, dubbing Brewer an "American patriot" for standing alone.
It all started when several members of Millikin University's football team followed National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick's example last month and protest-kneeled or sat during the playing of the National Anthem, local Decatur residents weren't happy.
So rather than create more furor, Saturday the team decided they would stay in the locker room while their fans listened to "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the game commenced.
“Rather than have our message be misunderstood or misconstrued, we are united in our decision to stay in the locker room until kickoff, during which time we will engage in a moment of reflection to personally recognize the sacrifice of so many and renew our commitment to living up to those most important words: ‘with liberty and justice for all,’” the team wrote in a statement published in the Herald-Review.
“Please let there be no doubt that we have the utmost respect for the sacrifice made by those who served or do serve in our armed forces, including many of our family and friends,” the football team wrote. ‘Therefore, it is our desire to do nothing that could be viewed as disrespectful of their sacrifice.”
Well, the team wasn't as united as said they were. Connor Brewer defied his teammates to pay respect for his country. Starnes writes:
Historians may consider the events of Oct. 16, 2016 as inconsequential, but that would be a shame.
Because it was the day an American citizen considered the cost and chose to defy the anti-American sentiment sweeping across the fruited plain. It was the day Connor Brewer, of Springfield, Illinois, stood resolute.
That young man is an American patriot.
Kudos, Connor. We America lovers stand alongside you.
See the faces of those “educated” who move for the destruction of the America.
http://athletics.millikin.edu/roster.aspx?path=football
So they get a pass for this reprehensible conduct? NOT by me.
This protest had no business being conducted on the football field any more than a pro or anti abortion protest.
The university should never have allowed it unless they plan to approve al other types of protest- which they won’t.
If you are an alumni do not contribute to schools whose administrations condone this type of nonsense.
God bless Connor Brewer. May the Lord bless his life and everything he do. Obviously a special young man. Pray that God gives him a better team next year so he doesn’t have to put up with the idiots in the locker room.
Thank you, Connor. I’m proud of you, and wish you all success in life. God bless!
Horrendous. Thank you for posting the story, depressing as it is.
Just frightening how far our nation has fallen.
Cowards hide in the locker room. How embarrassing it would be to be the parent of those cowards.
It is too bad we do not have more individuals like this
in our country. Proud to be an American just is not a very popular theme in this new politically correct USA
HIS parents should be proud
Funny how THIS story is pretty much hidden. Good job Young man. I am proud of you
Your parents taught you well regarding patriotism. You certainly did not learn it from your education.
Stand proud. You have a great military that thanks you for your action.
Not sure how proud the football team was when they came out of the locker room and played the game. I hope that parents got into the grill of their sons when they were through with the game. Obviously coaches did not care enough to make sure that this didn’t happen. c’mon, the whole team? How about the cheerleaders? Give me a break people. I coach youth football and my oldest son played high school football and have always talked about what a great country we have and what sacrifice was made so that we can go out and play the game. Maybe these boys should see the landing on Normandy by kids their age that went to war or the batton death march by the Japanese. Part of the problem is, the progressive left wing wacked out teachers that don’t care to show or teach history to our kids in grade and high school. We are about to lose our country people. With the corruption that is taking over the white house next year and not stopping the illegals coming across our southern border and vetting all folks coming in from the middle east we will continue to take a step deeper into the Abyss. God has been pushed aside in our country and all bumper rails have been removed because we simply are letting anything go in this country. This includes disrespecting law enforcement. The media is corrupt and true journalism is dead. The progressives will take over and you better all find and get closer to God because you are all going to need him when things get worse than they are.
Peace and blessings to all!