Utah OL Nick Ford Is A Utes Spokesperson For ‘We Are United’
Aug 2, 2020, 4:27 PM | Updated: 5:30 pm
Nick Ford #55 of the Utah Utes warms up before their game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah junior offensive lineman Nick Ford will be a Utes’ spokesperson for the “We are United” movement.
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Student-athletes that participate in Pac-12 sponsored sports released their list of demands for the conference and have threatened to opt out of the upcoming season if demands are not met.
Ford announced on Twitter on Sunday that he all of the decisions on whether to play or not at Utah will be his.
“The decision for my teammates to play or not, is their decision” Ford tweeted. “The decision for me to play or not is mine. I am a spokesperson for the University of Utah athletes who believe in points on the list. I did it to lead those who want to have a voice at the university.”
The descion for my teammates to play or not, is their decision. The descion for me to play or not, is mine. I am a spokesperson for the University of Utah athletes who believe in points on the list. I did it to lead those who want to have a voice at this university.
— Nick Ford (@FearThat55) August 2, 2020
Ford confirmed with KSL Sports that junior linebacker Devin Lloyd is also a spokesperson for the Utes.
Ford also mentioned on Twitter that Kyle Whittingham and Utah football has been doing a great job keeping track of their health.
“I must in fact state that Kyle Whittingham (@UtahCoachWhitt) and Utah football has been doing a great job keeping track of our health. We are in it to demand that all schools get the same care and a safe environment. Big shout out to everyone who has kept us safe so far!” Ford tweeted.
I must in fact state that @UtahCoachWhitt and @Utah_Football has been doing a great job keeping track of our health. We are in it to demand that all schools get the same care and a safe environment. Big shout out to everyone who has kept us safe so far!
— Nick Ford (@FearThat55) August 2, 2020
Student-athletes tweeted throughout Sunday, #WeAreUnited. Ford added a message to his tweet.
Take the good with the bad. #WeAreUnited ***Please give a read with an open mind*** pic.twitter.com/J9ULdhGwbj
— Nick Ford (@FearThat55) August 2, 2020
“Waking up to the #WeAreUnited fills me with happiness and disappointment. Happiness because I agree with many points in the fight for our safety and rights. Happiness to see how much support we have. Disappointment to see how much negativity is being brought to the table. It brings me sadness and is very disheartening to see these negative comments. Would anyone of you like to be talked about as an entitled piece of entertainment when standing up for the safety and health of your teammates, coaches, family, community, and let alone humanity? The amount of responses degrading the movement shows that a lot of people just think of us as entertainment on a Saturday for a couple hours. With everything that is going on in today’s society why must we produce hatred? Why not see the light at the end of the tunnel? I just want safety for me, my brothers, my brothers on other teams (yes we don’t all hate each other 24/7) and coaches alike. We are not just a football team and entertainment. In all respect,” Ford tweeted.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
