Kentucky football’s Josh Paschal and team united in common fight

LEXINGTON, Ky (WTVQ) – Get off the sideline and in the game.  That was the message from Mark Stoops as he and his players descended on downtown Lexington last Friday decked out in “Black Lives Matter” shirts. Junior Defensive End Josh Paschal says because of social distancing, the team hasn’t had a lot of conversations since, but he knows where they stand.

“This is a time where I feel like the team is united.” said Paschal. “We’re all fighting for the same cause. That we all were on Friday also. Every single one of my teammates no matter the color of our skin, they all have our backs specifically the black players. We know we have the voice of our white teammates and vice versa. We’re a brotherhood and we really showed that on Friday.”

One of those teammates was Landon Young who voiced his support for his black teammates.

“He was just telling us that he knows he can never fully understand what it feels like to be black in America, but that he knows that he has our backs and that he’ll fight with us and for us.”

The march was organized by former player and current assistant coach Courtney Love and head coach Mark Stoops.  After Friday, Paschal says the team appreciates the man who calls the shots from the sidelines even more.

“And Coach Stoops you know he’s about everything that he says and he has our back through whatever,” said Paschal. “And we know that for a fact, he showed that to the whole country on Friday that no matter what’s going on. No matter if it’s affecting him directly or if it’s affecting us, he’ll make sure everyone feels like they’re loved and that they’re supported.”

Paschal knows this is bigger than football, but he believes the nation can use the sport as an example of how to live.

“It’s everybody from all different type of backgrounds, you all come together to accomplish one goal. And you can do whatever it takes to do so and you brothers next to you no matter what they look like, they’re willing to sacrifice for you,” says Paschal. “And I feel like that’s exactly what this whole movement is. It’s just being willing to appreciate others and being willing to sacrifice for others. Football is a sport that brings people together. It being unity and I feel like that’s what our country needs right now.”