We shouldn’t let Trevor Lawrence — or anyone else — play college football this fall

Sometimes when you want something in the worst way, you put yourself in a position to do exactly that — to get what you desire in the worst possible way.

It’s hard to shake that thought when it comes to the heartfelt calls by many college football players — most notably Clemson University star quarterback Trevor Lawrence — to be allowed to play games this fall amid the public health crisis of COVID-19.

That’s certainly no dig at Lawrence, who has been an inspirational and admirable figure both on and off the field as a student-athlete.

But there is a very good reason why the Big 10, PAC-12 and many other major college athletic conferences have decided to postpone football this fall.

It’s because these organizations realize the risk of putting college kids on football fields while COVID-19 remains an ominous menace isn’t worth the “reward” of appeasing young athletes who may not be fully cognizant of what’s at stake — nor the “reward” of pandering to everyone else who just wants to watch college football this fall.

It’s a position based on common sense and sound judgment.

They are two attributes that the remaining holdout athletic conferences like the ACC (which includes Lawrence’s school, Clemson) and the SEC (which counts USC as a member) need to show they possess, too.

The outliers should change course, join their peers and decide not to play football this fall. It’s the right time to do the right thing in the best possible way.

Blind faith

In their grim resolve to play football no matter what, the ACC, SEC and others are putting blind faith in ignoring an obvious fact — and in perpetuating a potentially dangerous myth.

It’s a toxic combination all the way around.

An inconvenient truth

What’s the obvious fact that the “We the stubborn” segment appears intent on ignoring?

It’s the reality that only two major sports have been able to successfully carry out their competitions without widespread positive COVID-19 tests among their athletes — and that’s because they are playing games in bio-secure bubble environments.

While that may be an inconvenient truth for the ACC, SEC and other conferences still driven to playing football this autumn, it’s also one they must stop dismissing.

Misguided myth

What’s the misguided myth that the “We the Stubborn” segment continues to nurture?

It’s the nonsensical theory that because college football players are young and in elite physical shape, they have little chance of contracting COVID-19 while playing — and will have no problem recovering from the virus on the odd, oh-so-small chance that they do get it.

Someone should tell that to Indiana University freshman football player Brady Feeney, who is struggling to recover his health after contracting COVID-19 and has been passionately begging fellow young athletes to be aware of the danger posed by a virus that we’re not even close to fully containing.

This is in stark contrast to the fallacy that continues to be pushed that college football players have little reason to fear contracting COVID-19 — and it’s time for the ACC, SEC and others to stop fueling the delusion.

Ignore the agendas

But all of us have an obligation as well.

We have a responsibility to steadfastly tune out the noise from those whose agendas and interests are served if college football is unwisely played this fall.

Of course, the college football coaches will continue their shrill cries of “Let our guys play ball!”

But too many of them have already shown that their worldview in general is so narrow and limited that it barely extends beyond “Who are we playing this Saturday?” and “Where’s my headset at?”

We should ignore them.

Of course, the members of the college football industry — in particular, the highly paid commentators and analysts — will continue their shrill cries of “Let’s see some football!”

But in the best of times these sycophants act as though college football is more about the middle-aged guys walking the sidelines than the young ones between the lines — so why would they now suddenly change their focus toward the kids actually putting their bodies on the line?

We should ignore them.

And, of course, the cynical politicians like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — who has invited schools in conferences that have postponed football to go rogue and play games in his state this fall — will continue their shrill cries of “Let the games go on!”

While appealing to patriotism is the last refuge of countless scoundrels, seeking to bask in the reflected glory of sports remains a reliable last recourse for countless opportunists in public office who are desperate to draw attention away from other matters.

We should absolutely ignore them.

Yes, it may be tempting to be swayed by the genuine pleas from Trevor Lawrence and other college football players who say they simply “want to play.”

But one thing remains clear:

The right thing — the wise thing — is to not let them play at all this fall.

This story was originally published August 13, 2020 at 8:54 AM.