in the trenches andrew owens
Much 'APU' About Nothing?
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said he will use the bye week to educate himself on the recent All
Players United movement in college football.
D
uring college football's week four,
a few players across the nation
etched the initials "APU" (All
Players United) on their arm tape and
other gear with a Sharpie to call attention to apparent injustices perpetrated
by the NCAA on student-athletes.
Although only time will tell how far
the ripple effect extends, players and
coaches at Notre Dame know very little
about it.
The APU movement started with
the National College Players Association, which is directed by former UCLA
player Ramogi Huma. On the organization's website, visitors are asked to
sign a petition to "stand against unjust
photo by bill panzica
NCAA rules that leave college athletes
without basic protections" and fight
against forfeiting their rights to the
NCAA.
"I have not [talked to the players about it]," Irish head coach Brian
Kelly said Sept. 26, less than a week
after it emerged onto the national scene.
"Maybe I've been negligent on it, but I
really have been focused on my normal
tasks on a day-to-day basis with our
players. Maybe in the bye week I'll educate myself.
"I mean this sincerely. I'll educate myself a little bit more on this because I
really wasn't aware of it. I usually take
my feed from the American Football
