Wide receiver Kendal Thompson’s mostly trying to make a football team, not a political point.
The fact the team he’s trying to make is Washington’s, and he happens to be Native American is a happy coincidence to him.
The former quarterback from Utah and quarter-Kiowa said the nickname was never an issue in his family growing up.
“I grew up in a sports family,” Thompson said, via John Keim of ESPN.com. “Even in my Native American heritage, there’s never been any offense taken to the name of any of the sports teams, ... .
“It’s a part of our American history. We used to go to a powwow in Oklahoma City called Red Earth. So it just depends who you talk to, whether they take offense or not. As far as my family and heritage, we don’t take offense to that. It was never a topic.”
Thompson has always embraced his heritage, and his mother called the controversy “kind of silly.” She also pointed out that her father coached Capitol Hill High School’s team in Oklahoma, where the team shared a nickname with the one her son’s trying to make now. The school changed the name of its athletic teams to Redwolves a year ago, as many schools across the country have.
But while he isn’t bothered by it, he also knows people who are, and understands their point of view.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and for the Native Americans who do take offense to it, they have their right to feel that way,” Thompson said. “As far as my family and how I was raised, we don’t take offense to it. I guess it just depends on your background.”
Washington coach Jay Gruden wasn’t aware of Thompson’s heritage, and probably wouldn’t care either way. But the team’s ownership — which continues to staunchly defend the name — has to love the fact they have a supporter on their own roster.