Florida State football players say program lied to them about COVID-19 conditions
Florida State wide receiver Warren Thompson penned a lengthy letter on Thursday claiming that the program has lied to players about COVID-19 conditions.
The letter he published on Twitter and Instagram follows up tweets from other wide receivers referencing “lies.”
The letter arrives as the ACC maintains plans to carry on with a football season as the Big Ten and Pac-12 have postponed fall sports.
‘I have been lied to multiple times’
“Being a student athlete is difficult during this time and the proper leadership regarding these problems does not exist,” Thompson wrote. “During this entire week of camp I have been lied to multiple times about the conditions of other players (sic) health as well as mine. ...
“I have been ridiculed about speaking regarding this issue and it needs to be addressed for myself to safely continue the season. ... The lies from our leaders have backed myself into a corner putting my overall well being in jeopardy.”
The entirety of Thompson’s letter can be seen below.
Other FSU players express concern
Thompson’s letter follows up a tweet from fellow FSU receiver D.J. Matthews referencing “lies.”
All the Lies smh
— DJ MATTHEWS🔊🎶🎵 (@2nineee) August 13, 2020
Matthews tweeted then deleted on Wednesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Wide receiver Tamorrion Terry retweeted Matthews.
🤦🏾♂️ https://t.co/rCPzG4sCxk
— Tamorrion Terry (@TT1Batman) August 13, 2020
He later tweeted this.
I want too play football September 12 💯 but I also want to keep my family safe I have a 7 month kid at home ....
— Tamorrion Terry (@TT1Batman) August 13, 2020
Terry’s guardian Cindy Rewis demanded “answers” and “the truth” from FSU and first-year head coach Mike Norvell.
We need answers and we want the truth! @FSUFootball @Coach_Norvell As parents and family members we deserve to know our kids are safe! Weekly testing has not taken place and many players have tested + and yet told to remain silent! Silent NO MORE!
— Cindy Rewis (@TheMomToAngel) August 13, 2020
Seminoles players come to program’s defense
Meanwhile other FSU players defended the program. Safety Jaiden Woodbey wrote that the training staff “has been doing everything in their power to keep us safe.”
You guys can come here and check for yourself.. the FSU Athletic training staff has been doing everything in their power to keep us SAFE! They respected those who chose not to play this year for their safety. But what we can NOT do is let their efforts go unnoticed! Thank you 🙏🏾
— ϟ THOR ϟ (@JaidenWoodbey) August 13, 2020
Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. tweeted that he feels safe.
I feel safe coming to practice everyday because of the protocols FSU has in place !!!
— ASANTE SAMUEL Ⓜ️ (@godschild3_) August 13, 2020
Former FSU fullback Freddie Stevenson, who last played for the Seminoles in 2016, tweeted that “we can’t use you” to anyone who “ain’t all in” with the program.
We going to war with everybody that is all in with @FSUFootball if you ain’t all in then no hard feelings, we wish you the best but we can’t use you. We gonna change the culture here it’s been a losing culture for the past few years and we can’t allow it to continue! Go Noles!
— freddie stevenson (@strugglemade105) August 13, 2020
Coach Mike Norvell: some claims ‘untrue’
Norvell responded to the criticism in a video conference with reporters after practice Thursday morning. He called the claims disappointing and defended FSU’s COVID-19 process as transparent.
“I will say there are some aspects of what I have heard that are untrue,” he said. "And at the end of the day, I stand by the transparency of what we've had. This is who we are. It was disappointing to hear that, once again, there is some disconnect.”
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