CAMDEN, N.J. -- After Philadelphia 76ers players voices were heard in a team meeting, the organization on Friday issued an apology to singer Sevyn Streeter, saying it should have allowed her to perform the national anthem Wednesday night.We are sorry that this happened. After receiving feedback from our players, basketball operations staff and ownership group, we believe that the wrong decision was made, and Sevyn should have been welcomed to sing, the team said in a statement.We apologize to her, and in an effort to move the conversation forward, we have reached out to offer her an opportunity to return and perform at a game of her choice. We are waiting to hear back.Streeter was slated to sing before the 76ers season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but she said in an interview with The Associated Press late Wednesday that she was told she would not sing just minutes before her performance because she was wearing a We Matter jersey.The anthem issue has been a major topic in the sports world in recent months, starting with the decision by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick?not to stand while it is played. Kaepernick cited racial injustice and police brutality among the reasons for his protest, and athletes from many sports -- and many levels, from youth all the way to professional -- have followed his lead in various ways.Sixers players were informed of the Streeter situation by a team representative Thursday before holding a team meeting to discuss the issue and what they wanted to do moving forward.I didnt think it was right, Sixers guard Gerald Henderson said. We talked about it and collectively we thought that was the best decision [to let her sing in the future]. We felt like she should have been able to sing, and for whatever reasons, that didnt happen. I think it is a good idea to reach out to her, and hopefully she can come back and sing her song.Forward Jerami Grant also said he is hopeful that Streeter will accept the offer to come back and sing -- but added that if she doesnt, the players will talk about something else they want to do as a team.We havent figured that out yet, he told ESPNs Jeff Goodman.Coach [Brett] Brown came to us and allowed us to come up with an idea of what to do, Grant added. He gets it. He knows how we feel about this, he knows me and a couple other guys didnt like what happened with the decision not to allow her to sing.We need to move forward. We cant change the past, but were trying to right the wrong.Grant also addressed Streeters We Matter jersey.I dont really look at it as a political statement. It was just a statement in general. We matter. We matter as people, he said.Brown said he wanted his players to share their thoughts in the meeting and said our players voices were heard.If we as an organization had to do what we did again, that decision would not have been made, Brown said after practice Friday. I applaud the ownership group because it happened real quickly yesterday. Immediately we had [a representative] come out. ... I sat with my players, I said, This is whats happened. Youve heard it and in your perfect world, what do you wish would happen? And clearly there was some anxiety with that decision.We made a mistake and we move on, Brown later added on behalf of the organization. Our players voices were heard, and that was their choice, too, to extend an invitation and bring her back.Streeter said she was told two minutes before walking out to perform the anthem that she could not wear my shirt while singing the national anthem. ... I was never given any kind of dress code. I was never asked beforehand to show my wardrobe.Streeter has written songs for Chris Brown, Ariana Grande and other stars. In 2013, she had a top-40 hit with It Wont Stop, a duet with Brown that reached Recording Industry Association of America gold status.The singer, born Amber Denise Streeter, said she was very hurt by the NBA teams actions.I was angry -- extremely, extremely angry -- and disappointed and honestly brought to tears by all of it. It broke my heart, she said. Honestly, I was very excited about being able to perform the national anthem. I was really looking forward to that.A source told ESPN that any on-court performer -- singer, dancer, entertainer -- must sign a contract that gives the 76ers the right to cancel a performance if the standards described in the contract are not met. The Sixers declined to say why Streeters performance was canceled, but according to a report by CBS Philly, the contract prohibited political statements. The 76ers offered her an alternate shirt, but she refused it, the report said.I also felt it was important to express the ongoing challenges and ongoing injustice we face as a black community within the United States of America -- thats very important to me, Streeter said. Yes, we live in the greatest country in the world, but there are issues that we cannot ignore. This cant be ignored.The Sixers play at home Saturday afternoon against the Atlanta Hawks,?and players did not say whether the team has anything planned for the anthem.We talked about some things as far as declaring something to make our stand, Brown said. We are not in a position to do that. I think our best effort to date has been Jerami and Hollis [Thompson] and organization presenting [a $10,000 community initiative check to the International Institute For Advanced Instruction/Gateway to Re-Entry nonprofit]. Trying to do it in ways that we feel is responsible and still bold enough to make the stance we want to make.We simply want to say that we apologize. We made a mistake and we want to move on.The Sixers players, though, made it clear they want to see Streeter sing the anthem at one of their games.She wanted to wear a T-shirt that she felt was important, Henderson said. I dont know if telling her that she couldnt sing was saying that her statement was unimportant. But she should be able to do what she chooses and that is why we are going to call her back. Gary Trent Jr. Blazers Jersey . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Brandon Roy Jersey . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. 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"Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. PITTSBURGH -- Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi watched his team let Navys meticulously executed option offense have its way in a lopsided loss in the Military Bowl last December and knew something needed to be done.So the coach who stresses taking it one week at a time did something a little different during fall camp. He looked ahead. To be more specific, he looked ahead to Georgia Tech, who will bring a scheme the Midshipmen used to roll up 417 yards rushing to Heinz Field on Saturday.Narduzzi called the cram sessions Panther Periods.We need to stop the run, Narduzzi said. Whether its a spread offense or a triple offense, we need to make the plays necessary to stop them. We looked at it during the summer just so we could get our kids further along.Pitt (3-2, 0-1 ACC) will get a chance to see if the extra studying pays off on Saturday when the Yellow Jackets (3-2, 1-2) visit Heinz Field.They a have lot of magic done behind the line, a lot of stuff youve got to look at, Pitt linebacker Oluwaseun Idowu said. You need to have honest eyes.The Panthers edge Georgia Tech on a late field goal last season and figures to be in another tight one this time around. Each of Pitts past four games have been decided in the last 2 minutes, including a late 13-point outburst in the final 1:04 to put away Marshall last Saturday.That hasnt been the case for the Yellow Jackets, who are coming off consecutive home losses to No. 2 Clemson and No. 10 Miami, games in which they never led. Any chance of upsetting the Hurricanes evaporated when Miami returned a pair of second-quarter fumbles by Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas for touchdowns in the second quarter. Thomas knows those miscues need to stop immediately.Weve just got to stay consistent, quarterback Justin Thomas said. It will come but right now its just in spurts. We do something good a few drives and come back and we start going backward.TOUGH GRIND FOR YELLOW JACKETS OFFENSE: Each of Georgia Techs first three ACC opponents -- Boston College (1), Clemson (12) and Miami (7) -- rank among the top 12 nationally in total defense. Thats not the case with Pitt which is No. 72, allowing 406.6 yards per game. Those numbers are a bit skewed, however, and not necessarily in Georgia Techs favor. The PPanthers have struggled against the pass but are fourth in the country against the run, allowing 69.dddddddddddd8 yards per game.The Yellow Jackets struggled to a 17-14 win over Boston College in Dublin and were shut down in a 26-7 loss to Clemson. Their 124 total yards against Clemson were a low mark for the spread-option offense in nine years under Johnson.Johnson took a more hands-on approach in practice last week and Georgia Tech rebounded with 361 yards, including 267 yards rushing, in last weeks 35-21 loss to Miami.WHITHER WHITHEAD?: Pitt sophomore safety Jordan Whitehead dressed but did not play against Marshall, the 2015 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year watching from the sideline as the Panthers pulled away late to seal the victory. Narduzzi initially declined to get into Whiteheads status but earlier this week described Whiteheads absence on the field due to reasons personal in nature. Whitehead is second on the team in tackles and has rushed for 63 yards while moonlighting occasionally on offense. Narduzzi anticipates Whitehead returning to the lineup Saturday.BEEN HERE, DONE THAT: Georgia Tech also was coming off two straight losses to Duke and North Carolina in 2014 when it turned its season around with a 56-28 win at Pitt. That team finished 11-3, played in the ACC championship game and won the Orange Bowl.A lot of people were about to give up the ship and jump off and we ended up winning 11 games and the Orange Bowl, Johnson said. Theres still a lot of football to be played. Youve just got to take it one game at a time and play. Id like for us to be playing better than we are playing but who knows? Maybe this is the week.PASS HAPPY? Against Marshall the Panthers threw for more yards than they ran for, the first time thats happened this season. It was a welcome jolt for quarterback Nate Peterman and wide receiver Jester Weah, who connected on the game-sealing 54-yard touchdown with 64 seconds left.I feel my confidence is right up through the roof, Weah said. I feel like when Im on the field I can do whatever I want.---AP Sports Writer Charles Odum in Atlanta contributed to this report. ' ' '