Utah State game canceled after players’ protests against Colorado State. It is due to the president’s comments on the interim coach Frank Maile’s faith. The players released a statement to the stadium about their decision not to play. The comments allegedly made by the school president Noelle Cockett on Tuesday.
The comments were about her concerns with Maile’s religious and cultural background. Maile, a former Utah State player, also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Mountain West conference has since announced the game has been called off.
Players Protest Against President’s Comments
The Utah State players released a statement regarding the game cancelation with the players protest against the president’s comments.
The Utah State football players have decided to opt-out of our game against Colorado State due to ongoing inequality and prejudicial issues between the players, coaches, and the USU administration. This is also a major discussion on sports open place debate sites.
Last December 8, the Utah State University Football Leadership Council held a zoom meeting with Noelle Cockett, President of USU, and John Hartwell, the Athletic Director. The purpose of the meeting was to have a say in the search for our new head coach. During the meeting, we voiced our support for Interim Head Coach Frank Maile.
In response to our comments, their primary concern was his religious and cultural background. Players, stating their diverse faiths and backgrounds, then jumped to Coach Frank Maile’s defense in treating everyone with love, equality, and fairness.
It is not the first-time issues of repeated discrimination have happened. In December 2019, our head equipment manager used a racial slur against one of our African-American teammates. After disregarding the incident, pressure resurfaced to investigate in the summer of 2020. After the investigation, the administration concluded he would continue to be employed.