They have the "power" to boycott the season in protest. If they do it after the school has already committed the scholarships for the season, then the school is on the hook to cover their education for that semester. Now the student-athletes may have to accept the consequences next semester or quarter, but that is a discussion for another day.

If at the Liberty game, fans see only the coaches run out of the tunnel and majority (or all) the players decide to remain in the tunnel or locker room in protest, then you don't think VT would listen to their concerns?