Football coaches in the Austin school district have been told they should not speak to the media about any players or cheerleaders who kneel during the national anthem.
An email was sent last week after three coaches in the district — Charles Taylor of McCallum, Joe Frank Martinez of Travis and Mike Rosenthal of Austin High — made comments to the American-Statesman about small groups of Austin High football players and McCallum cheerleaders who took knees during the anthem in recent weeks.
The email was sent to the coaches by Leal Anderson, director of athletics for the district. Anderson noted that the email was written by the district’s communications department. It read:
“I want to reach out to make you aware of this story that came out this morning (Oct. 6) with Coach Mike Rosenthal quoted on kneeling. Please keep in mind that if we send a statement regarding an issue, individual staff members should not be engaged in media expanding on personal stances.
“It may be worthwhile to remind coaches ahead of tonight’s games that all kneeling stories should be pointed to our statement, which I have pasted below.”
On Oct. 4, the district issued this statement regarding student-athletes kneeling during the anthem:
“Austin ISD is committed to educating the whole child, including supporting First Amendment rights. AISD does not have a policy outlining student participation in the national anthem or Pledge of Allegiance. Student-athletes who took part in kneeling during the national anthem prior to football games were not disruptive as they exercised their First Amendment rights.”
Though the district’s email cited Rosenthal’s interaction with the media, it did not mention by name the other two coaches who spoke to an American-Statesman reporter. Taylor and Martinez offered their comments before they saw the district’s Oct. 4 statement.
Rosenthal’s comments came Oct. 5 after the Austin-McCallum football game and were published in the American-Statesman on Oct. 7.
In his postgame comments, Rosenthal said: “I’ve talked to each and every one of those kids, and we’ve discussed the issues. I’m really proud of them. They stand up for their values, and I support them with their values.”
He added: “It’s not enough to just kneel. We’ve got to go in the community, and we’ve got to do something about it. Let’s go to the rec center, let’s go to a kindergarten, let’s be role models, and let’s get out there and really do some good and really do some change.
“I think you’re fooling yourself if you think in this country there’s not an issue and a divide. The beauty of the football locker room is guys from every demographic, socioeconomic (status) and race come together for a common cause. You unite in that locker room, and that’s where the world is pure.”
On Thursday, Reyne Telles, executive director of the Austin school district’s communications department, said the district doesn’t disagree with Rosenthal’s stance on his players’ decision to kneel during the anthem but that coaches must “follow protocol” after the district releases a statement to the media.
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