Ohio State Quarterback Justin Fields: “If the SEC, the ACC and the Big 12 all think we can have a safe season, then I see no reason why the Big Ten can’t “



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Justin Fields is still fighting to try to save the Ohio State season.

A day after launching a petition on MoveOn.com which has already received more than 220,000 signatures calling on the Big Ten to “immediately restore the 2020 football season” while allowing players and teams to make their own choices of playing or to retire, Fields appeared on ESPN Radio’s Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin Monday morning to discuss why he feels so confident in pushing Ohio State to have the opportunity to play this fall.

The first reason: the elderly in the state of Ohio.

“The guys who came back in their fifth year, who came back from an injury, I think we owe those guys the most,” Fields said. “I just saw behind the scenes all the work they’ve done and how much they really care, and I also believe that all the coaches and parents of the players want us to play, and they are too. safely with guidelines set by the State of Ohio. ”

Even though Fields is already slated to be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, he’s still struggling to play another season with the Buckeyes this fall due to his love of the game.

“My love for college football and my love for my Ohio State teammates. I saw the guys recover from their injuries and saw how hard our coaches fought for us to play, so really just for them, and just my love for the game, ”said Fields.

Fields said he’s not sure it’s really hit him and his teammates yet that the Big Ten have postponed their season, but that it will if they are stuck at home this fall and other conferences are being played. And the fact that the ACC, SEC and Big 12 have yet to cancel their seasons is reason enough for Fields to think the Big Ten should move forward as well.

“If the SEC, the ACC and the Big 12 all think we can have a safe season, then I see no reason why the Big Ten can’t do the same,” Fields said. “If we’re sitting at home watching the other lectures play, I think it’s going to hit deep somewhere. Sometimes it doesn’t hurt too much until you realize you’re not playing, but I think players don’t realize how much it will affect them once they see more lectures and games. ‘other schools play, and we’re just sitting at home doing nothing.

Asked why he would be willing to take the risk of contracting COVID-19 to play this fall, the Ohio State quarterback said he understood the risks but believed he and his teammates were safer together at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center than they would be. -campus does anything.

“I think COVID you can get it anywhere, but I personally feel safer in the facility, around my teammates, knowing that my teammates are going to be tested twice a week,” said Fields. “It’s the safest environment for me and my teammates in my opinion. So I would have to say that being in the facility for me and my teammates is safer than just being on the go.

Fields said the past few weeks have made him realize how important a voice he has and that he – along with other college football stars like Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence – is using that voice to explain why they should be able to play this fall. .

“I just think we’re finally realizing how important a voice we have,” Fields said. “I think COVID and the cancellation of the season, I think it didn’t please a lot of college football players across the country. So I think this situation not only makes us realize that we have a voice in college football, but it also brings us together in terms of making one voice and becoming more powerful together, and that has been shown, I guess, over the past few weeks. on social networks. I think this is a good thing.

Fields believes Ohio State coach Ryan Day, his assistant coaches and athletic director Gene Smith all “fought really hard” for the Buckeyes to have the chance to play this fall.

“Whether it’s spring, whether it’s fall, I just know they’ve spent countless hours on phone calls and just talked to everyone to just have a season,” said Fields. “I know it’s important for him, and it’s really important for the players, so that’s what we want to do right now.”



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