Norristown Native, Albright Football Player, Cut For Kneeling During Anthem

NORRISTOWN, PA — A Norristown native and football player for Albright College in Reading has been cut from the team for kneeling during the national anthem before Saturday's game against Delaware Valley University, the school said in a statement.

Gyree Durante, a backup quarterback for Albright, was the lone player who decided to kneel during the anthem before the team's 45-7 loss on Oct. 7.

Albright said that the team's "leadership council," which consists of 24 players, agreed to kneel during the coin toss and then stand during the anthem.

"The football team made a team-wide decision to both kneel during the coin toss and stand during the national anthem. This action, which was supported by the coaching staff, was created as an expression of team unity and out of the mutual respect team members have for one another and the value they place on their differences. It was established as a way to find common ground in a world with many differing views," the college said in a statement.

The incident comes in the midst of a tumultuous NFL season which has seen weekly controversy over pre-game protests by players, coaches, and staff.

“At some point in life, there’s going to be a time when you’ve got to take a stand,” Durante told NBC10. “For me it just happened to be on Saturday afternoon.”

NFL protests first garnered national attention last year when quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem, calling it a motion of solidarity with people of color who had been oppressed. In particular, the protest zeroed in on recent cases of police brutality against African-Americans. As protests continued into 2017, President Trump has said team owners should order players to stand. Vice President Pence walked out of the Indianapolis Colts game this Sunday when players took a knee before the game.

Durante's stand has gained national media attention for the small Division III school in Berks County, gaining coverage from outlets like ESPN and the Los Angeles Times.

Patch file photo