USC football players urge Gavin Newsom to “Let Us Play”

USC football players led by Kedon Slovis urged Gavin Newsom to lift restrictions preventing practice.

USC football players aren’t content to sit and wait any longer. They’re asking California governor Gavin Newson to lift restrictions on college athletics in the state which would allow them to play this fall.

Quarterback Kedon Slovis and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown led a wide swath of players who took to social media on Tuesday to post an open letter to Newsom.

“We have sat by for two weeks watching teams across the country play the game we love safely,” Slovis wrote along with the letter. “Most schools have a fraction of the resources that our school and conference have provided to play safely. You are the only thing holding us back. Please #LetUsPlay.”

USC football players wrote an open to California governor Gavin Newsom.

The letter cited the return of the NFL and college football over the last few weeks.

“It left us wondering why we cannot join them,” the players wrote noting how local restrictions have prevented them from practicing or using their facilities.

“From the onset of this pandemic, the Pac-12 has rightfully and responsibly maintained that their decisions would be based on science, and it now appears that the science and technology have turned in favor of playing,” the letter continued.

The players asked Newsom to work with the conference “urgently and purposefully” to allow college football players in the state to return to play in light of the Pac-12’s partnership with Quidel Corporation, giving the conference the ability to test daily for COVID-19 with rapid results.

“As California goes, so too does the Pac-12 Conference. You can be the champion for the conference of champions, and most importantly, its student-atheletes,” they argued.

Coaches endorsed the message from the players wholeheartedly.

Clay Helton quote tweeted Amon-Ra St. Brown’s message with this: “We will always celebrate and support the voice of our players. Proud of these young men. ”

“The last month I’ve watched our team train under tents, outside, in a make shift weight room,” offensive coordinator Graham Harrell tweeted. “Even with the postponement of our season they have shown up everyday. They have done EVERYTHING asked of them and simply want an opportunity. I support our players, let’s play ball!”

USC’s players have largely remained on the sidelines when it comes to the debate over return to play. The Trojans have credited USC and the Pac-12 for their efforts to keep them safe while appearing to understand the need to shut down football earlier this year.

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However, the advancements in the Pac-12 health and safety structure are spurring them on, along with the Big Ten’s apparently imminent return to play.