Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields has started a petition on Moveon.org to persuade the Big Ten to resume football immediately.
He asks for teams and players to be able to decide for themselves whether or not they want to play, believing that the safety protocols in place are sufficient to mitigate any risk of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We, the football players of the Big Ten, together with the fans and supporters of college football, request that the Big Ten Conference immediately reinstate the 2020 football season. Allow Big Ten players/teams to make their own choice as to whether they wish to play or opt out this fall season. Allow Big Ten players/teams who choose to opt out of playing a fall season to do so without penality or repercussion.
Why is this important?
We want to play. We believe that safety protocols have been established and can be maintained to mitigate concerns of exposure to Covid 19. We believe that we should have the right to make decisions about what is best for our health and our future. Don’t let our hard work and sacrifice be in vain. #LetUsPlay!
Within 20 minutes, the petition had already garnered 3,200 signatures.