The college football season of 2020 seems to be shrinking for us all the time. Power Commissioners of Power Five held a meeting on Sunday to address the liveability of football in the fall and there will be another meeting on Monday. Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports announced Sunday that the Big Ten is ready to postpone its fall season and measure the interest of the other four power conferences.
Some of the sport’s biggest stars are talking in an effort to save the season, by channeling the #WHWTToPlay movement of NFL players. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence explained his position in a three-post Twitter thread.
“People are just as much, if not more at risk, if we do not play,” the junior signal-caller wrote. “Players will all be sent home to their own communities, where social distance is highly unlikely and medical care and expenses will be placed on the families if they contract COVID-19. Not to mention the players who come from situations that are not good for her / her future and should return to that football.Football is a safe haven for so many people.
“We are more likely to have the virus in daily life than football. Having a season also encourages players to be safe and take all proper precautions to try to contract covid, because the safety of the season / teammates on the “Without the season, as we have seen, people will not wear social clothing or masks and take the right precautions.”
The game’s other monster star, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, added his thoughts as well.
Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book also participated in the #WeWantToPlay hashtag.
Amari Rodgers, KJ Henry and James Skalski – three of Lawrence’s teammates at Clemson, joined the #WeWantToPlay movement.
Several other players tweeted their wish to have played the 2020 season, including North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell.
Florida running back Lorenzo Lingard will live in a bubble if he can.
Texas A&M defensive back Jaylon Jones scored.
Florida State defensive back Jaiden Lars-Woodbey will even sign a claim form.
While the Big Ten is arguably the conference kicking off the domino effect in the Power Five, its players and parents are not exactly excited about the idea of postponing the season. Dr. Corey Teague, father of the Ohio State star who turns Master Teague back, tweeted a letter on behalf of the Football Parents Association in Ohio State (FPAOS).
“As parents, we strongly believe. Our sons want to play next season and have the full confidence of the university and coaching staff have long worked with medical professionals to find a safe way for that to happen,” the letter said. “We believe this age group represents some of the healthiest individuals, although we recognize that the risk cannot be eliminated. We believe the risk is minimal and the season can happen safely and responsibly.”
Players of the Big Ten and Pac-12 have formed groups to demand reforms to benefit the health, well-being and financial stability of student-athletes. That’s just the last item in an offseason that has shown players that they have the ability to make a difference and hear their voices on a variety of issues. If successful, the members of the #WeWantToPlay movement could be seen as the people who saved the college football season.
