PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD INVITE THIS TEAM TO THE WHITE HOUSE

Illinois high school football team walks side-by-side with law enforcement officers for homecoming game opener and anthem in midst of NFL protest storm

By Matthew Wright

Daily Mail
September 30, 2017

A small-town Illinois football team decided to honor law enforcement in the opening of their homecoming game, standing side-by-side with them - before losing.

Before their game in Mascoutah, Illinois, the Mascoutah High School football team and members of the coaching staff walked out their locker room and unto the field with law enforcement on Sunday.

This comes after rising tensions between NFL, police and Donald Trump as well as the recent not-guilty verdict in the Jason Stockley case in St. Louis, which is less than an hour away, but the team asserts that the events are mere coincidences.

'That other stuff doesn't matter. We came together collectively as a team, put whatever differences of opinion there may be aside, and decided we wanted to come together and do this for our homecoming game,' said senior member Darius Cooley to the Belleville News-Democrat.

While they were ultimately destroyed by the Triad Knights 24-7, the experience beforehand showed some members the importance of teamwork.

'In high school we play for each other. It's not about the individuals or whose opinion is bigger,' added another senior Nick Thurston.

'We all respect each other and recognize that everyone comes from a different perspective and have different opinions. That's all OK.

'At the end of the day, we have each others' back, and we play for each other.'

According to Athletic Director Scott Battas, the message was crucial in showing just how 'diverse' their town is.

'You don't see a lot of small communities, as diverse as we are, with as much to offer. You throw in the military spirit and we get an incredible place. It just gives an opportunity to showcase that,' he said to KMOV.

The discussion on what to do for the game allegedly happened among school administrations weeks prior and was vital to working towards community outreach.

'I think it is vital to strengthening relationships between police and community because you can't just show up when a crime is being committed,' said Illinois State Trooper Calvin Dye Jr.

And while they continued standing for the national anthem, Battas claims that there was no protest involved in the act.

'There is no protest. What we are doing is putting our community on a platform and saying this is what we are,' added Battas.