No need to be confused about why Trevor Lawrence can travel to South Bend.
Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney announced during his call-in show that quarterback Trevor Lawrence would in fact travel and be on the sideline Saturday evening when the Tigers take on the Irish.
There was a lot of confusion among Clemson fans on Twitter after the announcement was made, though anyone who has read the ACC’s COVID-19 policy should not be confused.
Unlike the SEC, the ACC protocol for anyone that has tested positive is mandatory 10-day isolation – athletes and coaches cannot test their way out of getting back onto the field. Once their 10 days is up, they then have to pass two additional tests – a heart test and they also must have a negative COVVID-19 test.
Dabo Swinney says on his call-in show Trevor Lawrence will travel with the team and be on the sideline Saturday.
— Matt Connolly (@MattConnollyOn3) November 3, 2020
As we have seen, this is different than the SEC where just two weeks ago, Alabama head coach Nick Saban was able to return to the field after three separate COVID-19 tests, all 24-hours apart, all came back negative thus ruling his initial positive as a false positive.
If you listened to Dabo Swinney‘s post-game interview after Saturdays win against Boston College, he said Trevor was feeling a lot better and felt like he could play. This would fall in line with the reported mild cases of COVID-19 where people are feeling better after just a few days.
That’s gonna be a bad look
— Charles Guyton (@CharlesGuyton) November 3, 2020
Trevor will travel with the team because he will be passed the ACC 10 day isolation mandate and will presumably have had a negative COVID-19 test at that point, he simply cannot play because he will not have passed the ACC heart test requirements, which are for his own benefit.
The confusion of this policy by some makes no sense. It is a very simple policy and one that is in place to protect coaches and players alike.
Fine with what? He will be finished with his 10 day isolation
— Nathan Swords, MEd (@nathanswords_) November 3, 2020
Trevor Lawrence on the sideline will be huge.
There is zero doubt that this is Trevor Lawrence’s team, they follow his lead and he serves them, which is probably the most overlooked aspect of his leadership.
Trevor will be able to guide and coach the young offense as they face their biggest test of the year. Yes, the Clemson coaching staff is great but having the leader in the locker room with you means a lot more, especially in the heat of battle.
He will be a much-needed source of calm for D.J. Uiagalelei during what will obviously be the toughest test he has faced as a football player.
While he cannot be with them on the field, having him on the plane, in the hotel, and part of the team activities will be the next best thing and something that every Clemson football player will tell you is important to them.
While the traveling lists are small, all scholarship quarterbacks travel even those redshirting, so having Trevor as part of the travel squad was never not an option. His seat is guaranteed.