On Thursday, two SEC teams boycotted fall camp practice in solidarity with protests and other sports league boycotts/strikes following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. Kentucky players first to walk out of practice. Later in the day, Mississippi State players opted to not show up, attending a protest instead. Now both teams’ head coaches have shared statements.

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops posted his statement in two parts. His first part quote-tweeted a photo and graphic from the official Twitter account of the UK football team.

“I want to help our players align their beliefs with their opportunities. I’m proud that they care not just for themselves, but also for the people around them and the communities where they live,” Stoops wrote in the first tweet.

Stoops added, “They are knowledgeable and courageous, with a passion to make an impact. They have a commitment to being leaders of character as players, students and citizens.”

RELATED: Kentucky players outline what they hope to achieve by walking out of Thursday’s practice

“I am proud to be the Head Football Coach at Mississippi State,” MSU head coach Mike Leach wrote in a tweet. “I applaud our players for expressing some of their fears and anxieties today. I support them and look forward to working with them tomorrow, to use football to elevate us and the people around us. Hail State!”

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