Ten Years After Taking A Protest Knee in the NFL, The Legacy of Colin Kaepernick at Nevada Seems Like a Whisper

Reporting and top graphic by Shaun Baldock

Nearly 10 years after Colin Kaepernick first took a knee in front of cameras in a protest against racial injustice and police brutality against the Black community, he has been labeled in many conservative quarters as one of the most controversial quarterbacks in the NFL's history.

There was backlash, protest against his protest, as well as unity for what he took a knee for, including a Sit with Kap movement at UNR.

Before the NFL, the national spotlight, and social justice advocacy, there was a college student in Reno, one of our best all-time student-athletes, a quarterback who would eventually lead the University of Nevada, Reno football team to heights it has failed to reach since.

The Wolf Pack ended number 11 in the nation at the end of the 2010 season, with a 13–1 record, including a win in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

Many current students though know little about his connections and college success in Nevada, feeling it could be emphasized more.

"I honestly before coming here, did not know Colin Kaepernick went to UNR," says second-year student Megan Bryant, an atmospheric science major. "I think what he does off the field is something important that people should know and is positive for a lot of people."

Third year student Aisah Finley says that even though she may not know much about Kaepernick, she understands the importance of what he stands up for.

"I don't know much about him but I think it's important to acknowledge what he did," she said. "He showed that you can stand up for things you think are wrong and that it can be impactful when you do," she said.

Luke Hughes, the president of the UNR Club Baseball team and a student at UNR, says Kaepernick's importance was historical as a student athlete.

"I think what he did for the school and athletes is very important. He helped make Nevada look like a competitive sports school and made our name recognizable across the country," he said.

To hear from politically divergent student political groups on campus, I reached out to the Young Democrats of UNR and Turning Point UNR to hear their thoughts on the Kaepernick legacy.

Both groups declined to comment.

"We continue to be proud of all of our alumni, Colin Kaepernick being one of the most recognizable. The University recognizes Colin's tremendous contributions to the social justice conversation, as well as the impactful contributions of many of our history-making alumni," a statement I received from UNR indicated.

While researching around campus, though, it was hard to feel Colin Kaepernick's past presence here.

With the university having banners of alumni wrapped around campus such as for other former football players Nate Burleson and Marion Motley, I couldn't find one for Kaepernick.