POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. — The NAIA has agreed to move its Division II men’s basketball tournament from a private Missouri college because of the school’s stance on the national anthem.
The College of the Ozarks asked for the tournament to be moved because the NAIA had refused its request to require players to stand during the national anthem and would not plan a forum to discuss the issue before the tournament began, according to the Springfield News-Leader.
The Christian school announced in September that its athletes would walk away from any contest if the opposing team didn’t stand for the national anthem or disrespected the American flag.
College President Jerry Davis said Friday that NAIA officials stated they didn’t want the college to host the tournament early next year if it wasn’t comfortable doing so. The NAIA thanked the college for being a host for 18 years, but said peaceful protest was an “indisputable right.”
In the statement, the NAIA also wrote: “The NAIA believes the playing of the anthem provides student-athletes and fans an important and time-honored tradition to honor our country and veterans. The association encourages everyone in attendance to stand when the anthem is played.”