Several Joliet West Football Players Take Knee Before Plainfield Central Matchup

JOLIET, IL - Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's influence has rubbed off on members of the Joliet West football team. During Friday's homecoming game against Plainfield Central, several members of the Joliet West squad decided to take a knee as a sign of protest during the national anthem. Joliet's news radio station WJOL reported that Joliet West has issued a statement in response to Friday's display by several, but not all, members of the football team. The Joliet West Tigers went on to beat the Plainfield Central Wildcats in the game 21-17.

"Joliet Township High School will continue to open our athletic events with the national anthem," the statement read, according to WJOL. "Student-athletes may choose to exercise their lawful First Amendment rights to kneel, as long as it is a silent protest that does not cause a disruption. Individual student expression on this matter is not representative of the Joliet Township High School athletic program or any individual coach or staff member."

None of the Plainfield Central football players displayed any behavior that symbolized protest, according to WJOL.

Joliet West is now 4-2 and its next game is on the road Friday versus Minooka.

Joliet West is coached by Jason Aubry, who has coached varsity football for Joliet Township during the past decade. His bio notes that Aubry "has orchestrated one of the great program turnarounds as he has flipped a toxic, stagnant program into a championship environment."

Submitted image via Joliet Township School District