Protests during the national anthem are happening routinely these days, but nothing was routine about the one that went on late Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M.
It happened at halftime, it happened by surprise, and it happened with a service academy visiting.
After lightning caused officials to keep the stadium closed until a half-hour before the game, most pregame ceremonies were nixed. And an hourlong lightning delay at the first quarter's end led officials to limit halftime to five minutes and keep both teams on the field.
At the end of the first half, the Lobos band hustled behind the north end zone and began to play the national anthem. Players from both teams formed ragged lines along the sidelines, facing the flag, and five New Mexico football players — captain Garrett Hughes, senior linebacker Kimmie Carson, sophomore linebacker Elijah Lilly and junior defensive backs Stanley Barnwell Jr. and Michael Sewell Jr. — knelt. The move did not elicit much response from fans.
The playing of the anthem was unplanned, New Mexico coach Bob Davie said.
"We've never been out there for the national anthem, and the agreement was that there wasn't going to be a national anthem," Davie said, referring to a discussion among him, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun and the head official.
"I'm not sure our players knew. So again, I'd like to have the opportunity to visit with our players, talk about what our stance would be, unify it as a football team."
Calhoun said he didn't really have an issue with the players kneeling.
