A public statement from the school district did little to stem the controversy that erupted after the KHS Whippet football team failed to appear on the field for the National Anthem before its season opener at home Aug. 17.
The incident came on the heels of concerns regarding the 2018 KHS Homecoming t-shirt, which depicts whippet dogs in patriotic attire.
Superintendent Billy Ellzey said that the patriotic theme was actually selected by the school Student Council back in April and that the t-shirt was selected at the beginning of this school year. The shirts are designed and sold by the KHS cheerleaders as a fundraiser.
“Students picked the theme and students have designed it. Not once have I heard any complaints about it,” said the Superintendent.
Following the season opener, Ellzey issued the following statement in an effort to calm the ensuing controversy:
“Dear Kosciusko School and Community:
During the past week there have been many questions asked and much discussion about the Whippet football team not being on the field for the national anthem.
This decision was made for our football team to be able to keep the hype and excitement at the highest possible level before entering the field of play. Multiple Kosciusko football coaches have followed this pregame routine in previous years. We in the Kosciusko School District have a high level of respect for all veterans and those who serve in our military. At no time was this meant to be disrespectful to our veterans, military personnel, or our community.
We appreciate all our community support for our school district and the Whippet football team, and we want to invite you to continue coming out to watch this respectful group of student-athletes and coaches compete in the great game of football.”
When the team next played an away game Friday, August 24, the team again remained off-field during the anthem, causing additional questioning of the practice.
In an interview with The Star-Herald this week, Ellzey confirmed the team was on the field for the National Anthem during home games last year, but also noted there is no policy requiring it. Coaches of all Kosciusko School District teams have the authority to make that decision for the individual teams, he said.
“There are no policies concerning players and teams being on the field at certain times. We were in the end zone at home games” when the anthem was played last year, but not during away games, he said.
“Coach told me directly that he did it as he’d done at other places,” Ellzey said. “The coaches just wanted to have their team run out and be ready to play.”
Ellzey did say, however, that he believes the team will be on the field for the National Anthem for the next home game.
“Coach has decided to bring his team to the field (for the anthem) because he now believes that’s what is best for his team,” said Ellzey.
The Superintendent said that as far as he knows, the earlier decision to remain in the locker room until the beginning of play had nothing to do with the national discourse related to NFL players taking a knee during the anthem.
Ellzey said he does not believe the action was intended to be disrespectful of veterans. In fact, he said, he had been aware that Coach Causey had already planned to honor veterans later in the season, but was awaiting the arrival of some related items he had ordered.
“Before this ever occurred, he had set in motion a plan honoring veterans at our home games starting with the Homecoming game and continuing for four games,” said Ellzey. That plan, he said remains intact.
