Radio Station Won't Air East Carolina Game Because Band Members Kneeled During National Anthem
By Kyle Koster
Nineteen members of the East Carolina marching band took a knee while performing the National Anthem on Saturday. The action did not go unnoticed and the band was serenaded with boos when it returned to the field at halftime. The university has responded by making it clear future protests “will not be tolerated.”
Jeff Andrulonis, CEO of Colonial Media and Entertainment, was apparently so upset by the students’ protest that he’s decided not to air the Pirates game against South Florida this coming Saturday on WFAY and ESPNFayetteville.com.
This is something else - ESPN Fayetteville radio won't carry ECU-USF because of the band protest pic.twitter.com/2UwHgkfZBZ
— Mark Armstrong (@ArmstrongABC11) October 4, 2016
The ban is only for one week.
Andrulonis also told me he just expected this to be a local issue, but is already surprised at the attention it's receiving.
— Mark Armstrong (@ArmstrongABC11) October 4, 2016
Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, we can all agree that Andrulonis’ belief this wouldn’t generate national interest is extremely naive. That line about kids not wanting to get up early is especially regrettable. This story will spread like wildfire. It has all the elements to blow up into ubiquitous sports talk fodder.
Have at it.