It started with a tweet from Clemson star Trevor Lawrence, a minute after midnight. It snowballed in a flash.
And it could be the start …
It started with a tweet from Clemson star Trevor Lawrence, a minute after midnight. It snowballed in a flash. And it could be the start of the first free-labor union movement. With the fate of the college football season hanging in the balance, some of the most prominent players in the game from all five Power 5 conferences took to Twitter overnight Monday to voice support for both the games to be played and for the athletes’ voices to be heard. [ Want more Michigan football and Michigan State news? Download our free mobile app on iPhone & Android!] « I think it can save fall college sports in general, » Michigan defensive back Hunter Reynolds, who helped organize a unity statement among Big Ten players last week, told the Free Press early Monday morning. « Obviously, you know there are gonna be risks with playing sports this fall, especially in the midst of COVID-19. But I think, as athletes, we feel that if the schools are unified and uniform in doing everything in their power to ensure our well-being and safety that that’s a risk that a lot of people are willing to take. « But then also those who aren’t willing to take that risk, there shouldn’t be retribution against them or they shouldn’t be looked down upon. It’s definitely an extremely tough decision to decide to opt out, and making that decision doesn’t come lightly and it doesn’t come easily. Those are also athletes who have worked their entire lives to get to the point that they’re at. It’s definitely respectable for anyone who decides to opt out, and it’s respectable for anyone who decides to opt in. » Lawrence joined a number of his Clemson teammates and Miami QB Deriq King among players from the Atlantic Coast Conference lobbying for the season to be played. Reynolds joined with Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields and running back Master Teague III among those from the Big Ten. Alabama RB Najee Harris from the Southeastern Conference, Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler and Oklahoma State RB Chubba Hubbard from the Big 12. And California offensive lineman Jake Curhan — who helped create the #WeAreUnited campaign among players in the Pac-12 — all joined in to try and exact change from college football’s leadership and to let university presidents know #WeWantToPlay. Reynolds said players from three main groups — the Pac-12 players who threatened a boycott last week; the Big Ten players who focused on creating safer environments but planned to play; and others such as Lawrence and teammate Darien Rencher who want the season to move ahead — felt their hashtags were being pitted against each other on social media.
