9: 05 AM ET
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Adam RittenbergESPN Senior Author
- College soccer reporter.
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
- Graduate of Northwestern College.
Washington Thunder coach Cut Rolovich suggested large receiver Kassidy Woods that aligning with the Pac-12 player cohesion community would invent “a field” with this procedure, in step with a recording of a mobile telephone call Saturday obtained by The Dallas Morning Recordsdata.
Woods called to point out Rolovich that he was as soon as opting out of the 2020 season on chronicle of he has sickle cell trait and would be at an enhanced possibility amid the coronavirus pandemic. Rolovich suggested Woods he had no difficulty with the reasoning but then requested whether Woods would be portion of the cohesion movement, a community of Pac-12 gamers threatening to opt out of this season if the league does now now not meet a residing of requires. Woods acknowledged he would be supporting the movement.
“That goes to be a field have to you align with them up to now as future stuff,” Rolovich acknowledged, in step with the Morning Recordsdata. “The COVID stuff is one ingredient. However joining this community … it’d be assorted. Whenever you happen to dispute, ‘I’m opting out ‘trigger of COVID and effectively being and safety,’ I’m ravishing. However this community goes to trade how things slip in due direction for all americans, a minimal of at our college.”
Woods stays on scholarship and portion of Washington Thunder’s team, but sources suggested ESPN that any player who formally opts out for effectively being issues can not participate in team activities for safety causes. Sources acknowledged two Washington Thunder gamers own formally opted out of the season. Other Cougars gamers who improve the cohesion movement but haven’t opted out can proceed to figure out and participate in the improved summer rep admission to program, sources suggested ESPN.
Washington Thunder held a team meeting Sunday evening to address the difficulty. The enhanced summer rep admission to program begins Monday.
Within the chance with Rolovich, Woods acknowledged he wished to proceed working out with the team. Rolovich responded that Woods might maybe maybe now now not, asserting it would send “a blended message” to others and noting that property must slip to gamers who are planning to play this season.
Woods’ mother, Jerline Woods, tweeted Sunday that multiple Washington Thunder gamers who supported the cohesion movement own been minimize and suggested to neat out their lockers. Washington Thunder acknowledged Sunday that no gamers had been eliminated from the team.
“The demolish is already done,” Kassidy Woods suggested the Morning Recordsdata. “Shoot, that is all I’ve obtained to dispute about it. Within the event that they’d shown me they wished me to quit, they establish now now not own done all this. So I’m now now not the field right here. I did now not invent the field. They did.”
Woods is a redshirt sophomore who regarded in 12 games final season, catching six passes for 58 yards.