Lawmaker withdraws bill that would revoke college scholarships for refusing to play

A state lawmaker has withdrawn a bill that would revoke the scholarship of any college athlete who refuses to play for non-health reasons.

ABC 17 News checked the Missouri House’s website Wednesday which showed that the bill was withdrawn Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Rep. Rick Brattin explained why he pre-filed the bill.

“If our universities aren’t going to stand up and put their feet to the fire, then we’ll step up and put their feet to the fire,” said Rep. Rick Brattin, a Republican from Harrisonville near Kansas City, while talking to Missourinet.

This comes just one month after some MU football players boycotted team activities amid racial tensions at the university, which ultimately led to the resignation of former university president Tim Wolfe.

House Bill 1743 read:

“Any college athlete who calls, incites, supports, or participates in any strike or concerted refusal to play a scheduled game shall have his or her scholarship revoked.”

It also said, “Any member of a coaching staff who encourages or enables a college athlete to engage in behavior prohibited by this shall be fined by his or her institution of employment.”

The department of higher education would have had the responsibility of enforcing the rules and regulations for the administration of this section of the bill.

University officials, including new MU football coach Barry Odom, have not commented on the proposed legislation.

ABC 17 News checked with the University of Missouri Athletics Department to clarify that “the University of Missouri does not receive state-appropriated funds to operate its intercollegiate athletics programs, similar to private business, the Mizzou Athletics Department must operate solely from what revenue it generates.”