In a letter to The Players’ Tribune, a large group of Pac-12 players unites under the hashtag: #WeAreUnited to make demands of their conference.
This has been what can only be described as an eventful summer in the NCAA. First, COVID-19 made the world stand still. For college football, it took away both spring and summer practice and threatens to shut down the season. After the murder of George Floyd, players from around the country organized marches and demonstrations to protest police brutality against Black people.
Former and current players went after head coaches for their mistreatment of Black players at their universities. Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy were among those who came under fire.
The silver lining in this hot, hot summer is players are using their voices to institute change and promote equity on their campuses. Players at the University of Texas threatened to sit out unless their list of demands were met. Oklahoma State and All-American running back Chuba Hubbard threatened to sit out unless changes were made in Stillwater.
As conferences shift their schedules to go conference-only and players return to campuses all across the country, there is a group of players that are using their voices and their leverage to make demands of the Pac-12 for their services.
In an open letter to The Players’ Tribune, this collective of players listed their demands of the Pac-12 and explained why #WeAreUnited.
Here’s what #WeAreUnited had to say to the Pac-12.
In the opening manifesto of the letter, they outline the hypocrisy of the NCAA. These college football players have little incentive to play amid a pandemic. They do not receive a salary and receive little protection in the event they get COVID-19 and are out for the rest of the season.
In fact, many players have been asked to sign coronavirus waivers or risk not playing and losing either their scholarships or eligibility. This collective feels players should be able to opt out without penalty. Their demands place pressure on universities to put a premium on testing and precautions for players who choose to play.
Their demands reach far past just COVID-19 protections. They want protections for all sports and all athletes, especially those who have been disproportionately exploited by the NCAA. Their demands include name, image and likeness as well as healthcare and extending scholarships to ensure more players graduate.
Less than five percent of college athletes become professional athletes. Times like these expose these inequities and finally, players are using their voices to stand for equity and tearing down a system of exploration. Good on them.