[1] At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Matthews ran the first leg on the United States gold medal-winning 4 × 400 m relay team that set the world record of 2:56.16, which lasted for 20 years.

[3]Robert Markus reported in the Chicago Tribune on September 9, 1972[4] [Matthews] was angry at Coach Bill Bowerman-as most of the U.S. trackmen seem to be-because Bowerman had hinted he would like to remove him from the place he had earned in the 400-meter field.

He was angry that he had been forced to train on his own in unsuitable facilities, had to travel 4 or 5 times from N.Y. to the west coast in order to get any kind of competition, and had been put down by some of the press as a drag on America's hopes for a 400-meter sweep.The Chicago Tribune reported[5] Matthews said his and Collett's actions were directed at the U.S. coaching staff, not the flag or the National Anthem.

We didn't realize the implications to the people in the stands.However, in an interview after the medal ceremony with the American Broadcasting Company, Collett said the national anthem meant nothing to him.

[1] Since John Smith had pulled a hamstring 80 meters into the 400 m final while leading and had been ruled unfit to run, the USA were missing three runners and were unable to field a team in the 4 × 400 m relay and were forced to scratch from the event.

[7] On the March 1973 cover of Track and Field News Matthews and Collett are pictured from the award stand promoting an article "All Gold Does Not Glitter.