More than 40 Nebraska coaches and athletes are speaking out against online sports betting and urging Nebraska voters to reject Initiatives 440 and 441.
“Save Nebraska Sports” released a letter signed by 45 Nebraska coaches and athletes opposed to the initiatives, including 3x national champion football coach Tom Osborne, longtime assistant football coach Ron Brown, head wrestling coach Mark Manning, former NFL running back Roy Helu Jr., former quarterback and college football coach Turner Gill, All-American volleyball player Gina (Mancuso) Prososki, and Nebraska baseball players Ryan Harahill, Will Jesske, Chase Olson, and Tucker Timmerman, among others.
The letter warns that out-of-state gambling companies are pushing Initiatives 440 & 441 to make a profit at the expense of Nebraska families and student-athletes.
“These groups do not care about our athletes, our traditions, or Nebraska families. They see our state as another market and every phone as another casino,” the letter states.
“Husker athletics is about teamwork, discipline, competition, and pride in our state. We cannot allow it to be used as a vehicle to enrich out-of-state gambling interests at the expense of Nebraska families. We urge our fellow Nebraskans to protect student-athletes, protect families, and preserve the integrity of college athletics by voting NO.”
Nebraska Family Alliance Executive Director Nate Grasz gave the following statement:
“These athletes and coaches know what the gambling corporations pushing Initiatives 440 and 441 don’t want the public to see: this isn’t about helping Nebraska. It’s about out-of-state gambling companies draining hundreds of millions of dollars from our state at the expense of Nebraska kids, families, and student-athletes.
While the East Coast gambling companies funding these initiatives buy off athletes and leagues around the country to promote their sites, some things can’t be bought. Our student-athletes are not commodities. Our families are not profit centers. And Nebraska is not for sale.
We are grateful for these courageous athletes and coaches who are standing up for the next generation.”
Nebraska Family Alliance held a September press conference with Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley, State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg, and Husker football coach Ron Brown to announce the “Save Nebraska Sports” campaign.
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