ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A group of roughly 20 Michigan Wolverines locked arms and stood in a circle, heads down, during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to their prime-time kickoff with rival Michigan State on Saturday.
This weekend is the first time Michigan has been on the field for the playing of the national anthem since President Donald Trump's Sept. 22 comments on a controversy that started last season in the NFL with Jim Harbaugh's former San Francisco 49ers team and quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the anthem.
"A few of us talked about it," senior linebacker Mike McCray said. "Just with the social injustice in the world and a few things that have happened with racism and things like that. We left we needed to show support."
Under Harbaugh, the Wolverines have not been shy about adding their voices to discussions outside of football.
Following No. 7 Michigan's last game two weeks ago, Harbaugh was asked about Trump's stance that NFL players who knelt during the national anthem should lose their jobs. Harbaugh said the comments were "ridiculous" and that Trump "should check the Constitution."
Harbaugh wrote a short essay for Time magazine earlier this year defending Kaepernick and praising his former quarterback for taking a stand against police brutality and inequality.
Many college stadiums play the national anthem before both teams take the field and have done so for several years. Players are typically on the field for the anthem at Michigan Stadium. (The Wolverines are not on the field for the playing of the anthem on the road, including during their most recent game on Sept. 23 at Purdue.)
Last fall, several Michigan players raised fists during the national anthem to protest inequality in the United States. Harbaugh said then he supported their right to voice an opinion.
Michigan also played a video prior to kickoff on Saturday night that featured several student-athletes and athletic director Warde Manuel asking fans to listen to the opinions of the athletes they celebrate on the field and be open to having conversations about a variety of social justice issues.