College Players Use Power Social Media To Exercise Their Leverage On Racial Equality Issues
By Toby Srebnik for LVSportsBiz.com
It was just 25 days ago on June 4 when I posted about FSU’s Marvin Wilson, who sent a Tweet disputing something that his coach had stated. The two of them quickly worked it out. At that time, I explained that in my opinion, players have discovered the most leverage they have as a college player is the power of social media. I enjoyed the spirited conversation I had that day with others who felt Wilson should have either kept everything in-house or spoken to his coach first.
Since June 4:
— Former Iowa players shared stories on Twitter of how they had been subject to allegedly racist behavior by their strength coach during their time with the program. Following an investigation, the strength coach in question was fired.
— Current Oklahoma State RB Chubba Hubbard tweeted he would boycott his program after the head coach was spotted wearing an OAN shirt (a network that called Black Lives Matter a “farce). The athletic department created a diversity council shortly thereafter. The council will include students, athletes, and alumni.
— Mississippi State RB Kylin Hill tweeted he ‘won’t represent the state’ until Mississippi flag, the only state to still have a confederate emblem on its state flag, is changed. He received a lot of pushback from football fans and some racial taunts until the Southeastern Conference came out and agreed with his position. His coach soon followed as did its rival school U. of Mississippi. Over the weekend, the Misssissippi House and Senate both voted to remove the Confederate emblem once and for all.
— A Kansas State student tweeted a horrific joke about George Floyd mocking his death. Several K-State athletes tweeted they won’t play again until action is taken against the student. Within a day, the football coach came out in support of this movement and the situation is under investigation. The attached article, though, shows how some people are not happy the athletes made a statement.
25 days later, I am curious: How many of the above four movements would have occurred had these athletes simply gone to their coaches and told them they were upset about X, Y, or Z?
Would Iowa still have their strength coach? Would Oklahoma State’s head coach (who has had other issues through the years) have understood why his player was upset? Would the SEC have joined the Mississippi State player’s stance if it had been internal? Would there have been any pressure from K-State to discipline the offensive joke teller?
Bravo to all of these kids for taking a stand.
