While the recent controversy surrounding a Nike ad campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick has been a big deal in the national media, it has not really been a major topic of conversation in the halls and locker rooms of Tyrone High School.

Nike recently produced a commercial featuring Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback who is credited with starting a trend of NFL players kneeling in protest of inequality and racism during the pregame performance of the national anthem.  In the ad, narrated by Kaepernick, he says “believe in something even if it means sacrificing everything.” 

Across the country, many people opposed to Kaepernick’s protest have denounced the ad and the company.

“Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts,” President Trump tweeted this after the Nike ad.

However, despite all the national attention, the majority of Tyrone students interviewed for this story say that they don’t really care very much about the controversy and it has not really affected their opinion of the Nike brand.

“I didn’t mind it, I still wear and buy Nike,” senior football player Kolby Cowher.

“You do you, other peoples decisions shouldn’t affect you. I still wear Nike because why not,” said volleyball player Kaila Moon.

While the majority of Tyrone students and athletes who own Nike apparel don’t plan to stop wearing it, that doesn’t mean that they necessarily support Kaepernick or his protest.  Many of them still think that it was a bad idea for the company to use Kaepernick as their spokesperson.

“It was wrong, for disrespecting the flag like that,” said freshman Jacob Johnson.

“I would have used someone America doesn’t hate,” said freshman cheerleader Gracie Ball.

Although definitely in the minority, Kaepernick’s ad campaign also has a few local supporters as well.

“[I think] they did the right thing using Kaepernick for attention,” said freshman Drue Christine.

But as protesters burn Nike product and post the videos all over social media, according to the company, Nike sales have gone up by 36% in the last several weeks.

And Kaepernick has pushed Nike’s market value to $6 billion, which is an all-time high.