Tenn. lawmakers want to ban student-athletes from kneeling during the National Anthem East Tennessee State University basketball players took a knee during the national anthem at a game to address racial injustice, and now a group of lawmakers want to ban them from doing it again. and last updated 2021-02-24 21:40:08-05 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) â East Tennessee State University basketball players took a knee during the National Anthem at a game to address racial injustice, and now a group of lawmakers wants to keep it from happening again. Many believe taking a knee disrespects our country and those who died defending it, including several Tennessee lawmakers. A group of Tennessee Republicans sent a letter to public universities asking them to prohibit the act of kneeling during the anthem.