Former LSU coach admires Kentucky basketball kneeling during national anthem

Former LSU basketball coach Dale Brown admired Kentucky basketball for taking a knee during the national anthem but wishes there was a better way to express their thoughts.

Controversy is swirling around the Kentucky basketball program. No, not for their dismal start to the season or any sort of recruiting scandal or anything directly related to the play of the team. However, the controversy rests with John Calipari and his team taking a knee ahead of Saturday’s game vs. Florida.

Calipari expressed some regret in the timing of his team taking a knee during the national anthem but doesn’t think it was a mistake. When teams and individuals have taken a knee in the past, it has been a major point of contention of the people who think it’s disrespectful to the military and what they fought for. While others, including military members, say it’s nothing to do with the military and that the military fought to give them the right to protest like this.

Dale Brown admires Kentucky basketball for kneeling during anthem

In any event, former LSU basketball coach Dale Brown admired the courage it took from the Kentucky basketball players to kneel and referenced his relationship with Calipari and the class and respect for which he has of this country. But Brown admits he wishes there was a better form of protest despite the injustices in the system.

According to Larry Vaught of YourSportsEdge, Brown gave a thoughtful answer when asked his thoughts on Kentucky kneeling during the anthem.

"“I have been in 90 countries and none compare to our beloved USA. However, we are far from perfect and thank God we can express ourselves, not by rioting, looting or burning an American flag but by peaceful methods. It is despicable what happened at our nation’s capital on 1-6-21. This was not a peaceful protest but a crazed mob desecrating our nation’s capital.“I have known coach Cal very well for many years and his loyalty to America. His Kentucky teams have always displayed class and personally, I wish there was a better way to display their feelings because I think of all the veterans that lost their lives protecting us. One of those things was our free speech, which they implemented. However, I admire them and the coaches for caring enough to bring it to everyone’s attention in a dignified manner.”"

Kentucky is 4-7 overall and 3-1 in the SEC this year. The Wildcats next play on Jan 16 at Auburn.

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