On the same day Missouri coach Gary Pinkel showed solidarity with dozens of players for a boycott of football-related activities by tweeting a photo in support of the group, a Missouri player says the team is anything but united.
The players took a student protest of school president Tim Wolfe to a higher level on Saturday by demanding he resign or be removed with the boycott. Wolfe has come under criticism for inaction regarding concerns about racial issues following several campus incidents. A player told ESPN, however, that the team isn't fully on board with the boycott.
"As much as we want to say everyone is united, half the team and coaches -- black and white -- are pissed," said the player, who is white, per ESPN. "If we were 9-0, this wouldn't be happening. ... Not everyone agrees with the decision. Most people are pissed, including the black guys."
MU grad student Jonathan Butler has been on a hunger strike for a week in protest of Wolfe. While the Missouri players' initial demand was for Wolfe's resignation or removal, MU athletic director Mack Rhoades issued a statement Sunday indicating the boycott hinged more on Butler's willingness to eat. The Missouri Students Association has also called for Wolfe's removal.
Carolina Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy, who starred at Missouri, was asked Sunday if he supports the boycott decision, and he said "I support my family."
"They've got a great support system," Ealy said, per The Charlotte Observer. "I know our coach Gary Pinkel, he does a great job of standing up and leading. My heart goes out to those guys. I know it's a difficult situation with them being in the middle of the season having to deal with it, but I know they'll persevere. They have great leaders on the team and they've got a great staff. It's a family atmosphere and they'll get through it. "He's more than a coach to us. He's like a father. No matter if we've been there or the guys who are there now or when we go back home, he's like a father to us. He's like a players coach."
Missouri (4-5) is scheduled to play BYU on Saturday, with a broadcast on SEC Network. There has been no indication whether the Tigers could, or would, field a team for the game without the boycotting players.
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