During conversations on what more his Gophers basketball team could do to impact communities in need during a tough year, Richard Pitino looked to Jarvis Omersa for inspiration.
Omersa is known for his emotionally-charged sideline cheers and highlight dunks.
The 6-foot-6 junior from Orono who just celebrated his 20th birthday Monday used that nonstop energy and enthusiasm this summer to set an example for giving back and supporting change in the Twin Cities.
"It's very important," Pitino said. "The first thing you can do is be involved in your communities to help. When you see guys in your program do that when you're not making them do that, it certainly shows the substance we have in this locker room."
Earlier this week, the NCAA approved rules to allow athletes to wear patches on their uniforms to support social justice issues. Don't be surprised if Omersa is the first Gopher to jump on board.
Standing up against racial inequality is something Omersa didn't hesitate to act on after the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. He joined peaceful protests on the streets with his mother who has long been an activist against social injustice.
"People that do protesting, they feel the need to do that," Omersa said. "I was out there. I did a lot. It was fun being out there. It really felt like a team environment where everybody has the same goal, the same idea and the same mentality. That people have a lot of the same mind-set and ideas trying to address it and make a change, it's a comfortable feeling. It makes you feel people are going to back up what they say."
On her son's activism, Sara Omersa said she raised him to stand up for what he believes in.