The debate surrounding Colin Kaepernick’s protest of the national anthem — and the defense of it by the likes of the NFL and President Obama — got a major reality check from the coach of the Team USA hockey team.

John Tortorella, known for his direct and unambiguous statements, told ESPN on Tuesday, “If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game.”

When I asked Team USA coach John Tortorella about Kaepernick protest he told me "If any of my players sit on… https://t.co/CTEDYRG0zm — Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) September 6, 2016

Tortorella’s comment comes as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick continues his protest of the national anthem, including on “military appreciation night” in San Diego.

Kaepernick was booed as he took the field last week:

And he didn’t sit during the Star Spangled Banner, as he had the previous week, but rather was down on one knee:

https://twitter.com/ZEUSofQLF/status/771531065433481216

Kaepernick should probably be glad he doesn’t have Tortorella as a coach.