Players Want To Play, Coaches Want To Coach

With football looking less and less likely, coaches and players are banding together with one unified message.

Jim Harbaugh said it best when he joined Jon Jansen's podcast recently...

"We’re ready to play right now — anybody, anywhere. We just want to play football games. There have been so many guys who have trained so hard, not just now, but their entire life for this opportunity."

Now, other Michigan players and coaches are jumping on board with the social media messages #WeWantToPlay and #WeWantToCoach.

#WEWANTTOPLAY

— Aidan Hutchinson (@aidanhutch97) August 10, 2020

Junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson's message was short and sweet, consisting of just the hashtag. Hutchinson has been outspoken since arriving at Michigan and as a recently-praised leader, what he says carries weight. Throw in the fact that his father, former Michigan All-American defensive tackle Chris Hutchinson, is a an ER doctor at Beaumont Hospital, and he's as informed as any student athlete in the country.

#WeWantToPlay and not just P5 football players. There are athletes in other conferences and other sports who put in just as much effort and deserve to have as safe a season as possible‼️

— Hunter Reynolds (@hunt_xxvii) August 10, 2020

Redshirt junior defensive back Hunter Reynolds hasn't made much of an impact on the field for Michigan, but he's making big waves as an advocate for players everywhere.

Reynolds has been at the forefront of organizing a movement and bringing players together across the Big Ten.

#WeWantToPlay ‼️‼️‼️

— LV (@Luiji_V) August 10, 2020

Redshirt junior defensive end Luiji Vilain missed his freshman and sophomore seasons due to injury and was expected to have a much bigger role in 2020. With the season now in jeopardy, he's clearly hoping and pushing to take the field.

#WEWANTTOCOACH

— Bob Shoop (@CoachBobShoop) August 10, 2020

#WEWANTTOCOACH
Our medical protocol is the standard. The environment we provide is the safest environment physically, mentally, and emotionally for our players! We don’t just coach, We sacrifice, We raise, We protect, and We serve for these young men opportunities of their life! https://t.co/RabBhYJfO8

— Josh Gattis (@Coach_Gattis) August 10, 2020

Wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator Josh Gattis and safeties coach Bob Shoop both stand by their protocols and practices with the hopes of coaching football this fall.

#WeWantToPlay pic.twitter.com/jvQhE7noGB

— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) August 10, 2020

Even though he's not a Wolverine, Trevor Lawrence has become the poster boy for the movement. The starting quarterback for the Clemson Tigers has been mature, calculated, informed and level headed throughout his explanations as to why he and his brethren want to play. 

#WeWantToPlay

— ︎ donut 🍩 ❌ (@AndreSeldonjr) August 10, 2020

Freshman cornerback Andre Seldon, who has been on campus since January, has already missed spring football and now might miss his rookie campaign. He, along with his 21 classmates and freshmen around the country, want football this fall probably more than any other group of players. They've left high school behind and can't wait to embark on their collegiate careers.

I don't think any of this is going to make a difference, but the right people are certainly saying the right things.