How are Mizzou players staying safe? It comes down to accountability and respect
When players started trickling back to campuses nationwide for NCAA-approved voluntary workouts, optimism swelled: an on-time start to the 2020 college football season looked increasingly possible despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Then the positive tests started rolling in.
Schools such as Houston, Boise State and Kansas State shut down their voluntary workouts because players had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Other universities, like LSU and Clemson, announced dozens of positive tests.
In those cases, student-athletes had reportedly been going to bars and social gatherings ahead of their diagnoses. It showcased a core problem in strategy: While voluntary workouts can be conducted relatively safely by following health guidelines, it’s difficult to control college-aged students for the rest of the day.
Mizzou tight end Daniel Parker Jr. said the MU players are aware of this and have discussed staying away from other people during the pandemic. The Blue Springs native said it comes down to two key requirements: accountability and respect.
“With voluntary workouts going on and the majority of things are player-led, it definitely is going to show what teams are mentally ready from a player standpoint,” Parker said during a video call Wednesday. “We have countless players who continue to show up through voluntary workouts, the day in and day out. That’s all from player leadership.”
The upperclassmen need to be accountable, Parker said, when it comes to staying away from possible exposure to the coronavirus.
As juniors and seniors, it’s their last opportunity to play college football and potentially make it to the next level, Parker said. By being accountable and staying safe, Parker explained, the upperclassmen are showcasing their accountability.
Parker said the respect aspect pertains to the team’s underclassmen — those who still have years of college football ahead of them.
“As a freshman or a sophomore, you look at the older guys, you see ‘Wow, this may be their last chance, so why would I want to be selfish and go to a bar?’” Parker said. “It’s about showing respect for those in front of you as you want the same respect as you get into that position in your life.”
Mizzou running back Larry Rountree III echoed a similar sentiment. While Rountree said he’s told his teammates to refrain from going out, he admitted it’s difficult to police each and every player.
That’s why, if they do go out, Rountree has simple advice:
Wear a mask.
“We’re already behind — we didn’t have a spring (practice period),” said Rountree, who was a team captain last season. “We don’t need to waste anymore time. The time that we are getting, we need to take advantage of that as far as working out, getting conditioning, getting the offense down, learning the schemes, learning everything.”
MU coach Eliah Drinkwitz said last week that he’s taking the threat of the virus seriously and preaching that approach to his team. While he can’t guarantee his players will stay home, fellow players’ leadership can help.
Those around the program look forward to being able to continue their voluntary workouts in preparation for a Sept. 5 season opener.
“That’s what life is about: adapting,” Rountree said. “We didn’t know it was going to cause this big of an issue. But again, we still have to work and do what we can do and get better every day — mentally and physically. It’s different, I’m not gonna lie. It’s probably one of the weirdest summers I’ve had since I’ve been in college football.”
While the players are bracing for what could be a ramped-up period of practices ahead of an August training camp, Parker said the voluntary workouts have been crucial. He said there’s a new camaraderie at play as they navigate, together, this new strange new normal.
“Everyone on this team wants to contribute; everyone on this team wants to make it to the next level,” Parker said. “So everyone on this team knows it’s going to take dedication and hard work day in and day out, whether workouts are voluntary or not.”