[jwplayer OCeKLAsx-XNcErKyb]
If you went to bed at midnight as Sunday transitioned into Monday, then you missed the norms of college football being set ablaze by exactly one minute.
Because at 12:01 a.m. EST, that’s when Clemson star Trevor Lawrence tweeted out #WeWantToPlay, along with a graphic that shared college football players’ demands for a seat at the table. Turns out, while it was noted that there was support across all Power Five conferences, it wasn’t relegated to just the student-athletes.
[lawrence-related id=27025,27014]
The movement, which has become a national version of the PAC-12’s #WeAreUnited and the Big Ten’s #BigTenUnited — co-authored by Michigan’s Hunter Reynolds — calls for universal COVID-19 protocols, a player’s union and eligibility for those who opt out in 2020. The notion has since spread like wildfire. And it’s gone beyond the players, even.
Arkansas’ athletic director tweeted in support of it. So has Louisiana-Monroe’s head coach. Now, Michigan’s coaching staff is starting to get in on the action.
While the hashtag being used isn’t #WeWantToPlay here, Wolverines safeties coach Bob Shoop and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis both expressed their thoughts on the matter Monday morning, tweeting #WEWANTTOCOACH, with Gattis getting into more of a message of solidarity and support to the players.
— Bob Shoop (@CoachBobShoop) August 10, 2020
#WEWANTTOCOACH
Our medical protocol is the standard. The environment we provide is the safest environment physically, mentally, and emotionally for our players! We don’t just coach, We sacrifice, We raise, We protect, and We serve for these young men opportunities of their life! https://t.co/RabBhYJfO8— Josh Gattis (@Coach_Gattis) August 10, 2020
We don’t know if it’s too little too late at this juncture, given that college presidents appear to have their minds made up. But it appears that none of the people affected have been given a say or have had a voice in the matter.
Until now.