Lobo captain says players are unified
Fountain adds that kneeling something he would not do
No political statement was intended, Blaise Fountain said on Wednesday, when he and four teammates linked arms during the playing of the national anthem Saturday night at Dreamstyle Stadium.
Even so, it might stand as a statement of team unity.
Saturday, during the New Mexico Lobos’ game against Air Force, five UNM players knelt during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice — making national news and causing considerable stir locally.
Fountain, the Lobos’ starting center and a senior team captain, said kneeling during the anthem is something he would not do. But, he said, “That’s just my own beliefs, but everybody has their own beliefs.
“I stand behind my teammates on their decision, so if they felt they needed to take a knee I’m behind them 100 percent.”
On the CBS Sports Network telecast of the Air Force game, Fountain was seen linking arms during the anthem with offensive tackle Izrael Castellanos and defensive end Cody Baker. Castellanos linked arms with defensive end Kene
Okonkwo. Baker linked arms with an unidentified teammate.
Standing with linked arms during the national anthem is something NFL teams have done in solidarity with teammates who have chosen to kneel. Fountain said he wasn’t making such a statement but was simply trying to make teammates aware that the anthem, unexpectedly, was being played.
“We were just trying to get all the guys together up on the line, just to show unity, I guess,” he said. “... I thought if everybody linked arms they’d know that something was going on.”
Fountain said the decision to kneel made by players Garrett Hughes, Kimmie Carson, Stanley Barnwell Jr., Michael Sewell Jr. and Elijah Lilly, rather than being divisive, has brought the team closer together.
“There’s no bad blood between anybody on our team,” Fountain said. “We’re all in it together, regardless of our beliefs. Everybody has their own beliefs in this world, and they have a right to them.”
RECRUITING: Davie and his assistants were to leave on recruiting trips Wednesday after the team’s final practice this week. The Lobos have an open date this weekend and don’t play again until Oct. 14 at Fresno State.
The focus, Davie said, is on junior college players, particularly running backs. Three of UNM’s top running backs this season, Richard McQuarley, Daryl Chestnut and Romell Jordan, are seniors.
“Our whole success here has been based on running the football,” Davie said, “so running backs, to me, is No. 1.”
Davie said there is interest in a quarterback, though not necessarily from a junior college.
Cameron Burston, a quarterback from Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., signed a UNM letter of intent in February but has not enrolled. Davie said he could not comment on his status because Burston’s letter of intent is no longer valid.
Attempts to reach Burston for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.
On defense, Davie said, there is no position that’s a recruiting priority.
“We’re pretty young on defense across the board,” he said. DAMAGE ASSESSMENT: Saturday’s kneeling incident, coupled with a report to the effect that Davie is under investigation for player mistreatment and mishandling of player drug testing, has brought his program some unwanted publicity.
Davie was asked if he has seen any effect on recruiting.
Of reaction to the kneeling during the anthem and to a news conference held Tuesday, he said, “I think, quite honestly, from the feedback I’ve gotten, that’s been a positive. ... I’ve actually had nothing but positive things from people that have watched (video of the news conference) . ... It’s actually turned into a very positive thing.”
Of reaction to reports about the investigation, he said, “I haven’t heard anything. I think we’ve got pretty good credibility overall.”
On Wednesday, freelance journalist Daniel Libit — who broke news of the investigation — published a lengthy follow-up.
In Wednesday’s story, former players — some identified by name, others not — and staff members described Davie as unpredictable, often unapproachable and given to make racially insensitive remarks.
Davie responded to Libit that the story contained “several inaccuracies and sound more like malicious rumors.”