UGA football players take a stand for playing fall season during COVID-19
As the cancellation of a fall college football season gained potential over the weekend, most of the Georgia football players didn’t have much input to social media. Once two Power Five leagues made the move to postpone, the Bulldogs became vocal.
On Tuesday, the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced postponements of their fall sports seasons, including football. It is unknown whether the other power conferences — Big 12, SEC and ACC will follow suit. To this point, those remaining are expected to move forward.
SEC programs are allowed to start preseason practices on Aug. 17 for a scheduled season start of Sept. 26.
“I remain comfortable with the thorough and deliberate approach that the SEC and our 14 members are taking to support a healthy environment for our student-athletes,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, moments after the ACC echoed a similar sentiment. “We will continue to further refine our policies and protocols for a safe return to sports as we monitor developments around COVID-19 in a continued effort to support, educate and care for our student-athletes every day.”
Georgia players, who have been on campus for workouts and practices since June 8, have voiced their desires for the season to continue in its modified form during the COVID-19 pandemic. No players have opted out, according to sports medicine director Ron Courson.
The hashtag #WeWantToPlay has been echoed by prominent figures across and outside of the college football landscape. The movement gained support via a tweet from President Donald Trump.
Of Georgia players, the hashtag was tweeted by tight end Ryland Goede, wide receiver Kearis Jackson, running back James Cook, offensive lineman Trey Hill and in most of the tweets that contained another message.
Here’s what other Bulldog athletes posted to Twitter:
Senior linebacker Monty Rice: “Let’s play safely !! But those ‘in charge’ quit with the back and forth !!!”
Senior special-teamer Prather Hudson: “We understand the risks. We’ve worked too hard. #WeWantToPlay”
Tight end Ryland Goede: “It’s unbelievable how much more there is to this situation than just the health of us student athletes. It goes so much deeper and it’s scary. #LetUsPlay”
Dean Ratledge, father of freshman offensive lineman Tate Ratledge: “#ParentsWantThemToPlay I support #WeWantToPlay I can think of no safer place for my son to be than at UGA in the care of Ron Courson and the coaching staff. Those guys care about our kids! LETS GO!”
Chris Milton, father of freshman running back Kendall Milton: “Had an opportunity to think. I think my son is safer in a STRUCTURED, and SAFE football system with protocols in place, rather than walking and roaming freely through the rest of the student body. Plus, some of these athletes are safer at school than at home.”
Former Georgia quarterback Justin Fields, now at Ohio State. The Big Ten postponed its fall sports on Tuesday: “There’s been too much work put in!! #WeWantToPlay”
Fields, after the cancellation: “Smh..”
Senior defensive end Malik Herring: “I Came back to play ball! that’s what I want to do! Same for my teammates! #WeWantToPlay”
Walk-on linebacker Matthew Brown, on CNN with former Georgia tight end Benjamin Watson: “There’s risk to everything. There’s risk with football and driving a car. But with my faith, I’m supposed to live my life without fear.”
Senior defensive back William Poole III: “Control what you can control, be where your feet are...that’s it.”
Redshirt sophomore (and draft-eligible) running back Zamir White: “We’ve worked too hard to not be able to take the field this fall. I trust the plan that our leadership has to keep us safe on the field and off. Our team is ready to play. #WeWantToPlay”
Junior tight end Kolby Wyatt: “if we don’t play we will all still be at school on campus and even if we don’t play our teams should still provide us adequate care and protection from the virus. we all wanna play but under the right circumstances.”