The why and how UGA football players will promote social justice issues in 2020
The devastating memory plays on a frequent loop in Monty Rice’s mind. He can’t shake it. He doesn’t understand why it happened.
Nearly three years to the day, the Georgia linebacker received news about his cousin. Haraesheo Rice, 31, was shot by police officers in Huntsville, Alabama. Haraesheo was armed while being shot, according to a report by AL.com. The incident happened as a result of schizophrenia, a diagnosis given to Haraesheo after officers broke his arm and tased him in the mouth in 2006.
In 2015, Haraesheo was beaten by a guard at the Madison County Jail, according to another report by AL.com. His death came after a “shots fired” call was received by law enforcement. Haraesheo had been arrested over 20 times since 2005, but a lack of response to his mental health issues had been frequently reported by his family.
Monty RIce doesn’t say much about his cousin’s death. The man with a quiet personality can’t find the right words. It’s evident, however, that it bothers him. Monty plays sports for those close to him like Haraesheo, and has a tattoo of his name written below his elbow. He writes his cousin’s name on his arm tape on game days.
“I want it to be known what happened to my cousin,” Monty Rice said in 2018. “I love him to death.”
Over recent months, instances of police brutality and social injustices have been on display. The officer-involved deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Jacob Blake and others over recent months have made headlines and escalated discussion.
Then there are personal experiences like Monty Rice’s that didn’t make it past the local news outlets but carry an equal significance.
Those painful stories have turned the Georgia football program into a place where injustices are frequently discussed within a predominately-Black team. Especially since practices began in August, the volume has been amplified. Team meetings can be used as an open mic. They’ll have numerous discussions on racism, whether it be led by a player or Black assistant coach — running backs coach Dell McGee, wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton and director of player personnel Jonas Jennings have been the most involved.
“We vent all of our feelings to each other,” said wide receiver Kearis Jackson, who is a member of the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council. “We want to leave it all out on the table.”
Ahead of Saturday’s season opener at Arkansas (4 p.m., SEC Network), the frequent dialogue will translate to displaying their focus on social injustice. Georgia’s jerseys will feature a patch that says “TOGETHER” and “EQUALITY,” as revealed on the 1980s throwback uniforms. Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity told The Telegraph that the patch will be worn throughout the season on primary uniforms, too.
A moment will occur before kickoff in front of a socially-distanced, sparse crowd at Donald W. Reynolds Stadium in Fayetteville. Georgia and Arkansas will link arms together as a sign of unity. This decision follows numerous other social justice efforts from Power Five programs — including Clemson and Kansas State.
“We have to voice a positive message about social justice,” Rice said Monday. “We’re more than athletes.”
“I DON’T WANT TO LET THIS DIE OUT”
During each team meeting, there’s a point to where the Bulldogs take action. The players are methodical and meaningful in their approach. Those ideas are put into action once the door closes and brainstorming begins.
Head coach Kirby Smart said his players laid out about 17 action items for difference-making actions the Bulldogs want to execute on a local level. Some of those are already in full-swing. Georgia has two “Dawgs for Pups” initiatives rolling with fundraising for children in the Athens-Clarke County School District to receive Wi-Fi hotspots for learning. Another effort, under the same tagline, is the Food2Kids Snack Drive in coordination with the Northeast Georgia Food Bank.
Additionally, each position group spends time each week meeting with elementary and middle school students to engage and discuss different topics.
“We are very proud of all of our student-athletes for voicing their opinions and taking action,” McGarity said. “We are working on a number of opportunities (to promote social justice) throughout the year.”
These community-based actions are intertwined with speaking out on a larger scale. Rice knows it is “without a doubt” important to implement his platform, and has been vocal on Facebook and Twitter. Georgia players realize the importance of making their voices heard, whether it be on a public platform or in a demonstration of unity like the team-wide march in front of the Hunter-Holmes Academic Building (named after the first African-American students accepted into the university).
“It’s very important. You have to keep a balance on it,” Georgia outside linebacker Jermaine Johnson said. “You have to focus on what’s ahead, but I don’t want to let it die out. I’m going to do everything I can.”
On Saturdays, the players realize the importance of a game. That’s what they wear the Georgia uniform. They strive to post victories as fans and followers desire. But whenever there’s an opening, the call can be heard. Their actions are a request for support, away from the friendly confines of nearly 93,000 seats inside Sanford Stadium. Georgia won’t hesitate to make its point.
“We’ve done a great job of listening to our student-athletes — because they want to be heard,” Smart said. “We’re also educating them on the circumstances in our country and the ways they can bring about change.”
Smart has been a vocal advocate for social justice alongside his players in recent months. He posted a statement to social media in June, has spoken openly to reporters about it throughout preseason practice. His action came by way of donations. Along with his wife, Mary Beth Smart, the Kirby Smart Family Foundation donated $1 million for social justice causes, to assist students facing COVID-19 struggles and to contribute toward the football facilities’ expansion.
Smart is one of many coaches to support their players’ stances and allow them to speak freely. He addressed all student-athletes during a virtual rally in late August, too. For one former player, it’s commendable because he realizes the unequal representation of Black coaches to Black athletes.
“Let’s be straightforward,” former Georgia defensive back Rashad Roundtree said. “The coaches should be right there on the front lines. They have a strong say-so by protecting their players. This is priority No. 1 for doing that. As a leader of a team with so much influence, how can you not step up and say something?”
THE IMPACT ACROSS UGA ATHLETICS
Over the summer months, Georgia football didn’t have too much of a public stance on social justice. A number of players and coaches made social media statements, but not too much beyond a brief reaction. Most of that could be attributed to a lack of meetings with the media or the other pandemic-related issues across the country.
That changed with the Blake shooting. The players felt a need to revisit things and the action began. Suddenly, it allowed all of the university’s Olympic sports to follow suit — like the women’s basketball voting drive or the rally by track and cross country athletes.
“They’re like the golden child of the university,” senior track and field athlete Alec Collins said. “All of the attention is on them, so that acknowledgement gets the ball rolling.”
Those observing the football team’s actions realize the difficulty in speaking out, too. The players could have their draft stock or professional trajectory altered. They could alienate part of the Bulldogs’ fan base. Meanwhile, they’re setting it aside in the hopes for their supporters to realize their other identity.
Football players and athletes in other sports have the same objective — to be known for more than performance.
“It really kicks things up and makes people start talking about it,” Georgia cross country runner Jayda Woods said. “There are people who only want to cheer for them on the field with a jersey. If you are supporting Georgia football, then you need to support black lives.”
For stories like Monty Rice’s, Georgia football players will continue to use their platforms. They’ll show it on Saturday afternoons, too.
“It’s more than football,” Jackson said.
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 5:00 AM.