LINCOLN — Despite Gov. Pete Ricketts’ objections over the Nebraska basketball team playing what’s often referred to as the Black national anthem before games, UNL announced Monday that it would continue doing so.

Head men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg said at a press conference Monday morning that the Huskers had begun playing the song last year to promote unity after the National Association of Basketball Coaches suggested it following the racial turmoil of last summer. He said the team will continue doing so this season, though they will re-work the format. Hoiberg said the “Star-Bangled Banner” will be played first, the U.S. flag will be cleared, and the “Lift Every Voice and Sing” will be played afterward.

Hoiberg noted that all Big Ten schools that stay out on the court for the playing of the national anthem also played "Lift Every Voice and Sing” last season.

In a tweet last week, Ricketts called the playing of the song divisive, saying, “There is only one national anthem for the United States: It’s the Star Spangled Banner. It’s a symbol of our national unity and it’s the only anthem for America that should be played before Husker games."

In the same statement, Ricketts said, "If athletic programs are going to play other ‘anthems’ before games, what has historically been a moment of patriotic pride will become nothing more than a series of political gestures that will divide Nebraskans based on their identity rather than bringing us together."

Hoiberg said he consulted with both athletic director Trev Alberts and women’s basketball coach Amy Williams, and all three decided to continue playing the song before games. Hoiberg said the intention of playing the song was to "promote unity and inclusion."

Hoiberg noted that the program has "heard a lot of positive feedback and obviously a lot of negative feedback on it."

"I’ve been really proud of our team the last couple years for using their platform to address issues that have been going on in our country and hopefully promote change," Hoiberg said. "But for us, we feel as sport, hopefully we can help be an example. We have players from all over the country, all over the world, that have to come together and play for each other, and be one.”