By Tennessee Tech University
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - This season, the Tennessee Tech men's basketball team will wear warm-up shirts bearing a social justice message special to the team.
"This action of wearing a shirt represents the way we intend to treat each other on this team. It represents the way we, as a team, intend to treat all those around us. It represents the way we hope to influence all those around us to treat all those around them," the players said about how they planned to become a part of the national conversation on racism.
The message on the shirts, Enuff is Enuff, was chosen purposefully by the team.
The players say they chose "enuff," because the misspelling stands out, catches the eye, and can make us uncomfortable.
"We understand that wearing a shirt is essentially words; we understand that actions will always speak louder than words. However, the purpose of wearing such a shirt is to bring attention to an issue"
In addition, a Unity patch, created by the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, will be worn on the uniforms of all OVC basketball teams.
This summer, the NCAA announced it would allow student-athletes in all sports to wear social justice messages on their uniforms. The OVC Board of Presidents created a website supporting the importance of creating an inclusive culture in the league. The page is a resource for student-athletes, coaches and administrators to encourage them to listen, reflect, educate and grow.
The university and Department of Athletics continue to find new avenues and opportunities for education. The "Wings Up Podcast" has had four episodes dealing with social issues. Episode 12 featured Thomas Savage, President of the Cookeville-Putnam Chapter of the NAACP, and members of the Golden Eagle basketball teams having a conversation about social justice. Episode 15 featured TTU Senior Instructor of Exercise Science Steve Smith, TTU Head Football Coach Dewayne Alexander and Golden Eagle football student-athletes Jamaal Thompson and Chris Tucker.
Episodes 23 and 24 featured student-athletes Chanel Bishop, Raya George, Jamaal Thompson, Chandler Caldwell, Lyn'Nikka Vance and Dane Quest, men's basketball student assistant Michael Lolio and men's basketball graduate manager Ezra Pinzur, all members of the University's student organization C.O.D.E. (Center of Diversity Education), continuing the discussion about social justice.
