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Georgia footballers are challenging students to make sure there is a 2020 season
Every Georgia player who spoke to the media this week has reiterated how safe they feel in the football facility. Kirby Smart revealed that it’s the players who are policing social distancing and security issues when it comes to the team.
The Georgia footballers really want to play. At this point, they have done everything they can to guarantee a season. Georgia has not yet released data on how many footballers have tested positive for COVID-19, but Georgia players, whether it be Jamaree Salyer or Kearis Jackson, have made it very clear how important it is that they take proper protocols so that Georgia can Arkansas play on Sept. 26.
“Everyone in this building has done a great job and made sure everyone wore their mask, washed their hands,” Jackson said. “As long as we do our job, we can hopefully have a season.”
Related: Jamaree Salyer explains why it is so important for him to play for UGA this season
The members of the Georgia football team are likely to continue to do the right thing because they understand what is going on. They’ve already seen friends – like former Georgia quarterback Justin Fields – have their season removed. They do not want to suffer the same fate.
The problem for the players, the SEC and all of football is that the next step is out of their control. As students return to campus and classes begin, attention will shift to how the student body is coping with the virus.
Georgia students are on the verge of getting into focus, with lessons starting today. Those same students, whether it’s a new year just starting out or a senior who just needs a few more credit hours, master whether there will be a college football season or not.
The players seem to understand this pretty well. The coaches do that too. Therefore, you have probably seen a number of posts on social media featuring Smart or basketball coach Tom Crean asking students to wear a mask and practice appropriate social distance techniques.
“I wear a mask for the Bulldog Nation.” #DawgStrong pic.twitter.com/EshyPQdjpG
– UGA (@universityofga) August 19, 2020
Some members of the Georgia football team have gone a step further in pushing for proper safety in the Georgia community.
“I just want to challenge the student body and challenge my peers to wear their face mask, just like we will all wear in class.” Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean said.
Dean was not alone in public in asking his classmates to make the necessary sacrifices to ensure a safer campus and environment.
“We also need to get on the student body to wear her mask and wash her hands,” Jackson said. ‘Because if we do our job and the student body does its job, make sure we stay safe and practice social distance, we will have a season.
“But if we don’t, we have no season.”
One only needs to look at schools like Notre Dame or North Carolina to see how fast things can run on campus and the ramifications it has on athletic programs. Notre Dame has reported 222 active cases, while North Carolina has 135. Because of the spikes, both institutions have gone to online learning while also pausing football practices.
If things are not taken seriously, the University of Georgia will experience something similar.
Announcing plans for seating for the 2020 season, Georgia plans to have 3,000 students in the stands for games. The school plans between 18,000 and 23,000 total fans this season.
Related: Greg McGarity, Georgia AD, deals tickets for football climate, Dawg Walk Florida tickets
At a time when many professional teams do not allow fans – the Atlanta Falcons will now have no fans at their September home games – the school recognized it was important to have students at Sanford Stadium. The leaders know how important the presence of a student is for Sanford Stadium.
“It was important for us at an early stage that we maintain the student section, and [the student] footprint was not affected, ”said senior deputy athletics director Josh Brooks. “We have actually increased the footprint of the students.”
The players understand that and want them there. They also happen to know that it will be up to the students when someone gets to see a game at Sanford Stadium.
“If you want to see the Dawgs in uniform and at Sanford Stadium this year, then the student body, even if we are leaders and wear our masks, just have to be smart about the situation,” Jackson said.
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