AAC football players join voices in support of fall season.
The football players of the American Athletic Conference have joined the growing number of FBS athletes to voice their desire to play the 2020 fall sports season.
Memphis quarterback Brady White posted a graphic on Twitter early Monday afternoon that reads in part, "Make no mistake about it, we are perfectly aware of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected many lives all over the world. We understand the risk involved and #Wewanttoplay with the following proposal."
White collaborated with South Florida's KJ Sails and Houston's Marquez Stevenson in drafting the full statement, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The Mid-american Conference on Saturday canceled its football season, becoming the first FBS conference to do so. On Monday, the Detroit Free Press reported the Big Ten has done the same, though there were conflicting reports about that. The Pac-12 also is reportedly on the verge of canceling 2020 fall sports.
The AAC players' list of proposals is highlighted by their desire to "create a players(') association that will have the players(') best interest in mind." It also includes bullet points – many of which already have been addressed by conferences and individual institutions – related to open communication between players, conferences and the NCAA, the players having the opportunity to opt out
of competition, the creation of an environment that will protect their health and privacy, and the development of universal health and safety protocols.
Memphis began fall camp on Aug. 7 and was scheduled to practice Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Tigers have a scheduled day off Wednesday.
Last week, Memphis announced it was proceeding with an 11-game schedule that will begin Sept. 5 against Arkansas State, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.