Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis joined Fox Sports Radio’s Clay Travis on Monday’s Outkick the Coverage to throw his support behind the “We Want to Play” movement started by high profile college football players like Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields, among others.
“Absolutely, without question, they should play,” DeSantis told Travis. “I’m not saying if for some reason they don’t feel safe, they should be forced to play. Just give them an extra year (of eligibility), but give them a choice and I believe a vast majority of student athletes will choose to play.”
DeSantis’ remarks come as the 2020 fall football season is in serious jeopardy. Two FBS conferences, The Mountain West and the MAC, have announced the cancellation of football this fall amid COVID-19, concerns while The Big Ten and Pac 12 are expected to make similar announcements soon. FCS football has also cancelled its postseason for 2020.
“From a practical perspective, it’s a no brainer,” DeSantis added. “Sports provide the most structured environment these athletes can have. By not letting them play sports, you are not helping with their development and you are not even helping them with the Corona Virus. They are likely to be out doing other things if not for sports… I would say that’s true for health generally. When you are a student athlete, you have access to medical care. A lot of them come from low income backgrounds, so it is harder for them to have access to the same type of care and they are being tested for the virus every day. I think the safest place for them to be is the college setting.”
DeSantis further argues that taking away sports from college athletes will have academic consequences, as well.
“I was a college athlete and sports was a big motivation for me to do well in the classroom,” DeSantis said. “I knew if I didn’t, I could not play. I imagine I am not alone in feeling that way. There are a lot of ramifications to think about.”
Amid making arguments as to why there should be a football season, DeSantis also praises Lawrence for spearheading the #WeWanttoPlay movement.
“What Trevor is doing is compelling,” he said. “He is speaking from experience and the points he is making are logical and well-spoken. That matters. To have someone of his caliber do that, people are going to follow that type of leadership.”
Throughout the rest of the nearly 30 minute interview, Travis and DeSantis discuss that most of the college age demographic who have the virus, display mild symptoms. Then the tone becomes more political in nature. DeSantis elaborates on Florida’s response to COVID as compared to other states’. He says that some media members are twisting statistics to “Increase fear, but if you peel the onion back, you see what is really going on”.
DeSantis was not the only politician to endorse the #WeWanttoPlay movement on Monday. President Donald Trump tweeted his support in a series of messages from his personal Twitter account.