As word spread Sunday about the potential demise of the college football season, one star player was advocating to keep the game alive.
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, of Cartersville, Ga., said last week he had considered opting out of this season when he was unsure what college football would look like going forward amid the coronavirus pandemic. He is now confident in Clemson’s ability to keep himself and his teammates safe.
ESPN and Sports Illustrated reported Sunday that Power Five commissioners met to discuss the possibility of not playing this fall. Furthermore, speculation is that the Big Ten has already made the decision to abort the season.
In a series of tweets Sunday, Lawrence appealed for creating an environment “where we can play the game that all of us love.”
Let’s work together to create a situation where we can play the game that all of us love. Not divide and argue. There is a way forward
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) August 9, 2020
Lawrence continued on Twitter suggesting that sending players home could potentially expose them to a greater risk to the coronavirus.
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
Players being safe and taking all of the right precautions to try to avoid 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 the proper precautions
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) August 9, 2020
Lawrence led Clemson to a national title in 2019. He was 25-0 as a starter until he and Clemson fell to LSU in the national title game last January.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has plans to play 11-game season. The junior is considered a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy and a likely No. 1 overall pick in the next NFL draft should he leave college early.
