PLAYERS ASKED TO SIGN ‘PLEDGE’

Ohio State is asking its football players and their parents to sign a document that acknowledges the risks involved with playing amid the pandemic, the Columbus Dispatch reported. “Although the university is following the coronavirus guidelines issued by the CDC and other experts to reduce the spread of infection, I can never be completely shielded from all risk of illness caused by COVID -19 or other infections,” the document reads. Failure to comply with the rules laid out in the pledge could result in a player being banned from team activities and facilities, though scholarships will not be at risk. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith told ESPN’S Heather Dinich the “Buckeye Pledge” is not meant to be considered legally binding but rather is being used to educate players about the risks.