Utah Utes Players Express Desire To Play Football In Fall
Aug 10, 2020, 11:20 AM | Updated: 11:48 am
Utah Utes offensive lineman Nick Ford (55) before the Pac-12 Football Championship Game between the Oregon Ducks and the Utah Utes at Levi's Stadium on December 6, 2019 in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Many Utah football players expressed their desire to play the 2020 college football season in the fall on social media.
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The Pac-12 student-athletes formed the #WeAreUnited group on August 2 when they released a list of demands to conference officials. Now that reports are swirling around the Power Five conferences potentially canceling the 2020 college football season at least until the spring of 2021, players expressed their desire to play.
The #WeWantToPlay started trending on Twitter when Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence tweeted out a thread on Sunday.
Trevor Lawrence Thread
The Clemson quarterback posted a three-tweet thread on Sunday.
“People are at just as much, if not more risk, if we don’t play,” Lawrence tweeted. “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 contact COVID-19.
“Not to mention the players coming from situations that are not good for them/their future and having to go back to that,” Lawrence continued. “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 – Players being safe and taking all of the right precautions to try to avoice 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 proper precautions.”
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
That’s when the #WeWantToPlay trend started on social media. A graphic was posted on players’ profiles and has taken over Twitter.
#WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/jvQhE7noGB
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) August 10, 2020
The graphic has the Power Five conference logos (ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC and Big 12), followed by #WEAREUNITED X #WEWANTTOPLAY.
“We all want to play football this season,” the graphic read. “Establish universal mandated health & safety procedures and protocols to protect college-athletes against COVID-19 among all conferences throughout the NCAA. Give players the opportunity to opt out and respect their decision. Guarantee eligibility whether a player chooses to play the season or not. Use our voices to establish open communication & trust between players and officials; ultimately create a college football players association. Representation of the players of all Power 5 conferences.”
Utah Football Players That Want To Play
Jake Bentley, Quarterback
#WeWantToPlay https://t.co/IqWf2tRNEl
— Jake Bentley (@JakeBentley19) August 10, 2020
Devin Brumfield, Running Back
— Devin Brumfield🦏 (@brumfield_devin) August 10, 2020
T.J. Green, Running Back
#WeAreUnited x #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/NdehvpYWoY
— Tj Green🎸 (@tjgotemmcoach) August 10, 2020
Micah Bernard, Running Back
#WeAreUnited x #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/fiAS34E28X
— Micah Bernard (@ctb_mb) August 10, 2020
Solomon Enis, Wide Receiver
#WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/qeVQilu0SI
— Solomon. (@SolomonEnis) August 10, 2020
Samson Nacua, Wide Receiver
Nacua tweeted out “I just want to play ball. I’ve given so much time and effort over my 4 years not to play my senior year.”
I just want to play ball. I’ve given so much time and effort over my 4 years not to play my senior year. 😔
— Lørd Įmpälêr (@lionel_nacua) August 10, 2020
Nick Ford, Offensive Lineman
Ford is one of the two spokespersons for Utah with the #WeAreUnited unity group.
#WeAreUnited #WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/nGUF0CxZ2e
— Nick Ford (@FearThat55) August 10, 2020
Semisi Lauaki, Defensive Lineman
— Semisi Lauaki (@SemisiLauaki) August 10, 2020
Devin Lloyd, Linebacker
Lloyd is one of the two spokespersons for Utah with the #WeAreUnited unity group.
#WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/JQWqPwsRC5
— devinlloyd (@DevinLloyd_) August 10, 2020
Andrew Mata’afa, Linebacker
#WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/E0rbeDdFrS
— Andrew Mata'afa (@andrew_mataafa) August 10, 2020
Caine Savage, Cornerback
#WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/DesBKrQ6Zs
— Caine Savage (@LegendaryCaine2) August 10, 2020
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.
