Illinois Football Player Stands Alone During Anthem While Rest of Team Protests From Locker Room

Millikin University's football team decided to stay in its locker room during the national anthem Saturday, leaving one player standing alone on the sideline.

The Herald & Review reports sophomore Connor Brewer stood for the anthem. Millikin spokesman Bryan Marshall said Brewer "did what he felt like he needed to do." Brewer has declined comment.

The team stayed in the locker room last weekend, following the Sept. 24 game before which several players kneeled during the anthem in a fashion similar to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Millikin is a private Division III school. Most major teams, including the University of Illinois, run onto the field after the anthem because of elaborate pregame routines that include things like smoke machines to fire up the crowd.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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