With so much talk about the importance of canceling a football season this year — due to Coronavirus concerns — players and coaches are speaking out against the idea. Two of the top quarterbacks in the sport, Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Justin Fields (Ohio State), want to play for their schools and others have followed with hashtag statement #WeWantToPlay.
He was hired to the University of Alabama in March as the program’s Director of Performance Science, and Dr. Matt Rhea has made a significant impact all summer long. The Crimson Tide’s coaching staff, players and fans love he and David Ballou for the dedication they have in trying to get Alabama back to winning championships.
In the midst of the drama that has college football hanging in the balance, Rhea issued one message to the masses: trust the team doctors at the various schools.
One thing that really irritates me about covid paranoia is the apparent thought that we know nothing about how the body responds to viruses. We do. And there’s a lot of people much smarter than me working in this area.
— Matt Rhea, PhD (@MattRheaPhD) August 9, 2020
For someone who has worked in the realm of sports science since 2001, Rhea is frustrated with the paranoia that has been caused by the virus.
The consulting company Rhea launched in 2001 has helped the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Hockey League (NHL).
His work has also contributed to the International Olympic programs and college athletic departments, in terms of providing directions in speed training, injury prevention and performance optimization for clients.
It is one thing to be cautious, but it becomes a different situation when one goes overboard.
Rhea is sensing the overreactions of people to stories on the news. He even quote tweeted a story from Neuroscience News on how masks reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Pretty simple people. Wearing masks reduces spread of 99% of droplets. Cancel culture needs to be replaced with some good old fashioned common sense and civic responsibility. https://t.co/4kHLLxeN9O
— Matt Rhea, PhD (@MattRheaPhD) August 9, 2020
A risk will happen whether college football is played or not; nevertheless, the bigger of two evils is not playing because of the negative domino effect. Not only will the economy in certain areas take a massive hit, but also ripping a sport away from young athletes who have worked tirelessly for it is not good either.
All Rhea wants is for people to trust the medical doctors.
RELATED: Alabama adds Missouri and Kentucky to its 2020 schedule
Fall camp for Alabama and the Southeastern Conference is scheduled to start on Monday, Aug. 17.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
