College football players all across the nation are taking to Twitter with #WeWantToPlay and #WeAreUnited to let their voices be heard. With each respective conference in active discussion on whether or not to have a college football season, the players will not sit by silent and let the decision be made without their input.
Opposing Views
#WeAreUnited
Just as in all aspects of life, there are two opposing views on whether or not there should be a season. On one side you have the #WeAreUnited camp. This group believes that the risks of Covid-19 outweigh the reward of playing a season. These players believe that the season should be canceled due to Covid-19 and the risks that the disease poses.
I got a son and fiancée that I come home to everyday…. I’ll continue to protect them… It’s bigger then just football #WeAreUnited pic.twitter.com/uh2FP8AEKu
— Trevon Clark (@trevon2221) August 2, 2020
Y’all love us with pads as players but shame us for being humans with voices. #WeAreUnited
— Malik Hausman (@LeekHausman) August 2, 2020
#WeWantToPlay
However, the #WeAreUnited crowd has some strong opposition. Two of the Heisman front runners, Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence, both fall into this camp. They are not alone either, they are supported by athletes from each of the Power 5 Conferences. They are pushing for the conferences to allow the players to choose. Instead of outright canceling the season, give the players that fall in the #WeAreUnited camp the option to opt-out. While having universal health and safety procedures in place.
#WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/NgKG9Nab9c
— Justin Fields (@justnfields) August 10, 2020
People are at just as much, if not more risk, if we don’t play. Players will all be sent home to their own communities where social distancing is highly unlikely and medical care and expenses will be placed on the families if they were to contract covid19 (1)
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) August 9, 2020
Not to mention the players coming from situations that are not good for them/ their future and having to go back to that. Football is a safe haven for so many people. We are more likely to get the virus in everyday life than playing football. Having a season also incentivizes –
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) August 9, 2020
Players being safe and taking all of the right precautions to try to avoid contracting covid because the season/ teammates safety is on the line. Without the season, as we’ve seen already, people will not social distance or wear masks and take the proper precautions
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) August 9, 2020
Up to the Confrences
With the college football season up in the air, I can only applaud these Student-Athletes for speaking up and making their voices be heard. Although, the choice is ultimately up to the conferences and university presidents. The outlook is bleak, with the Big Ten will canceling its football season, it is the first power 5 conference to cancel their season. It wouldn’t be unlikely that the other power 5’s will follow suit. The #WeWantToPlay campaign is the player’s last-ditch effort to save their season, with some Ohio State player asking, “Can we play in another conference?”
Can we go play in SEC then ?!
— Teradja Mitchell (@teradja_) August 10, 2020
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