Washington coach Ron Rivera spoke to CBS This Morning’s Gayle King about efforts to change the team’s name and culture.
With the news Thursday that the Washington NFL team will be known at least next year as the Washington Soccer Team, coach Ron Rivera spoke to Gayle King of “CBS This Morning” about efforts to change the name. and the culture of the team.
King told Rivera on the Friday morning show that the placeholder’s name was similar to calling him Head Coach Man, and asked if the team is close to a decision on his name.
“No, we are not close to making a decision,” said Rivera, the former Carolina Panthers coach who took over from Washington in January. “The most important thing we have learned is that this is going to take action. This cannot happen automatically. We’re going to have to go through the process. “
He said the team plans to make an announcement of the future name in about 16 to 18 months, saying the team wants “to do it the right way, and not miss out on the opportunity to hopefully change the brand for the next 100 years.” That would mean that the team would also not have a new name for at least the beginning of next season.
Rivera also said the team does not plan to stray from its burgundy and gold color scheme.
“The colors will stay. The big reason is that there is so much tradition and history with this football team that changing the colors could be a bit distracting from what this team has done in terms of its past history. With the championships it was won. There was a time when they won three championships in approximately 10 seasons. We don’t want to lose that part of our history, “he said.
King asked the coach if the team will be able to win back fans who don’t like the decision to change the team’s name. He said winning will bring those fans back to the fold.
“We are going to try to win over the fans by playing better football than anything else.” When you play well, when you win soccer games, people support you and support you. We have to go out there and show our fan base that we are the same soccer team, just a different name right now. A little placeholder again like I said.
“But we have to do things the right way. We have to change the culture of who we are and we have to do more than just change the name of the name, but change the style of football we are going to play, change the brand in the way we do things. “
His response led to King’s next question, about the recent Washington Post report describing allegations of 15 women, previously employed by the team, that they had been sexually harassed by male team executives.
King asked Rivera if he knew when he would take the job that he would be “inheriting a disaster” and if he regretted taking it.
“No, i do not do it. I really don’t. I took this job because what I saw on the soccer team and who I saw as the young players this team has. For me, there are many young and quality soccer players who have a bright future. As coaches, we have to train these guys and give them a chance to succeed. “
King asked Rivera if he would object to his players kneeling during the National Anthem. Rivera said he would fully support his players’ expression of their freedom of expression, and spoke to King about reading the Constitution and the United States Bill of Rights, and having a thoughtful conversation with his players through Zoom in. the days after George Floyd’s death. Police in Minneapolis.
“These guys, all they are doing is exercising their fundamental rights, and I will support it. It is what our military have fought for: our freedom. We have to see it that way; We can’t see it any other way, “said Rivera.
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