The opt-out of Alcorn State is causing a stir around the SWAC.
After weeks of speculation, Alcorn State sent out a release on Tuesday evening stating that it was opting-out of the 2021 spring football season due to COVID-19 concerns. Alabama A&M head football coach Connell Maynor says that is the reason for not playing, then the program should be shut down until those concerns are taken care of.
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“If they opted out because of COVID, they shouldn’t be meeting. They shouldn’t be lifting weights, and they shouldn’t be practicing,” Maynor told Mo Carter of WDZX news. “They shouldn’t have no spring ball, if they opted-out because of COVID, because if you do– you’re contradicting yourself. Because you’re still putting your kids at risk of getting COVID because they’re practicing and they’re right in each other’s face.”
Maynor’s Alabama A&M program was set to open up the season against Alcorn State on Feb. 20. That game won’t happen now, but Maynor thinks it should if ASU continues to put in work.
“If that’s their reason, they shouldn’t be doing any of those things. If they’re looking out for their players, they should continue to look out for their players, and don’t do that. Because if they’re gonna do that – they’re gonna lift weights and their gonna practice– they might as well play.”