While we’re “LM’ing” things...I would “PLM.”
Thinking as a Player (yes - it’s been about 40 years, but FUBeAR’s emotional maturity became completely stunted at about 20. Usually, this is not an asset, but in this case, it is), I would have waded thru Hades wearing gasoline drawers just to suit up & play a Football GAME. I cannot imagine the psychological GRIND these Players have, are, and will go thru this year. A redshirt year is torture, but often expected; missing a season, or even part of a season due to injury is torture-squared (FUBeAR survived both of these horrors...barely...and both left scars that still ‘tingle’ when they are rubbed the wrong way); but missing a season, even an abbreviated one, because your own school chose not to play would be torture to the nth power!
While these young men are much better-rounded these days, I’m highly confident that most of them still ‘identify,’ first & foremost, as a Football Player. When they wake up every morning, Football is on their minds in some shape, form, or fashion. That kind of focus is necessary to endure the grueling pain of workouts, weightlifting, and injury rehab. And, as Coach Iverson once said, they sure ain’t grindin’ to PRACTICE. They LIVE for those Saturday’s in the Fall when they go to War with their Brothers. Sure, it’s really just a silly game and the “adult” in them knows that, but that “adult” is just a tiny voice, heard way, way in the background of their psyches, and the Football Player, the Warrior in them tells that “adult” to “Get thee behind me!” every day. “You’ll have your turn, someday, but today is not yet that sad day!”
Honestly, I hope these schools are willing to & are retaining Professionals to work with these young men in groups & as individuals in how they are coping with this loss.
#PLM
Last edited by FUBeAR on Wed Aug 19, 2020 8:02 pm, edited 3 times in total.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers,
For he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother