Florida State broadcaster Warren Thompson on Thursday issued a lengthy letter claiming the program lied to players about COVID-19 circumstances.
The letter he published on Twitter and Instagram follows tweets from other broad recipients referring to “lies”.
The letter comes as the ACC maintains plans to continue with a football season because the Big Ten and Pac-12 have postponed the bankruptcy sport.
‘I lied several times’
“Being a student athlete is difficult at this time and the proper guidance regarding these issues does not exist,” Thompson wrote. “During this whole camp of the week, I was borrowed several times about the circumstances of other players’ (sic) health than mine. …
“I’m ridiculed talking about this issue and it needs to be addressed for myself to get the season going well. … The lies of our leaders have put me in a corner and endangered my overall well-being. ”
The entirety of Thompson’s letter is shown below.
Other FSU players express their concerns
Thompson’s letter follows a tweet from another FSU receiver DJ Matthews referring to “lies”.
Matthews then tweeted on Wednesday wishing he had positive testing for COVID-19.
Broad receiver Tamorrion Terry retweeted Matthews.
He tweeted it later.
I also want to play football on September 12 💯 but I also want to keep my family safe. I have a 7 month old baby at home …
– Tamorrion Terry (@ TT1Batman) August 13, 2020
Guardian Terry Cindy Rewis demanded “answers” and “the truth” from FSU and first-year head coach Mike Norvell.
We need answers and we want the truth! @FSUFootball @Coach_Norvell As parents and family members, we deserve our children to be safe! Weekly tests have not taken place and many players have + tests and yet told to remain silent! Quiet NO MORE!
– Cindy Rewis (@TheMomToAngel) August 13, 2020
Seminoles players come to the defense of the program
Meanwhile, other FSU players defended the program. Safety Jaiden Woodbey wrote that the training staff “did everything in their power to keep us safe.”
You can come here and check for yourself .. the FSU Athletic training staff has done everything in their power to keep us SAFE! They respect those who have chosen not to play for their safety this year. But what we can NOT do is let their efforts go unnoticed! Thank you 🙏🏾
– ϟ THOR ϟ (@JaidenWoodbey) August 13, 2020
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. tweeted that he felt safe.
I feel safe to practice every day because of the protocols that FSU has in place !!!
– ASANTE SAMUEL Ⓜ️ (@ godschild3_) August 13, 2020
Former FSU fullback Freddie Stevenson, who last played for the Seminoles in 2016, tweeted that “we can not use you” for anyone who is “not all in” with the program.
We are going to war with everyone that everything is with @FSUFootball if you are not alone, then there are no hard feelings, we wish you the best, but we can not use you. We are going to change the culture here, it has been a losing culture in recent years and we can not continue it! Go Noles!
– freddie stevenson (@ worstlemade105) August 13, 2020
Coach Mike Norvell: Some claim ‘not true’
Norvell responded to the criticism in a video conference with reporters after the practice Thursday morning. He called the claims disappointing and defended FSU’s COVID-19 process as transparent.
“I will say that there are some aspects of what I have heard that are not true,” he said. “And at the end of the day, I stand by the transparency of what we had. This is who we are. It was disappointing to hear that there is something disconnected again.”
First-year head coach Mike Norvell labeled some of the claims made by FSU players as “not true.” (AP Photo / Phil Sears)
