Stop me if you’ve heard this before… A college athlete who, by all scientific standards, does not need the COVID vaccine but is being forced and shamed into complying with their school’s mandates. It’s not essential for the health and safety of themselves, their teammates or their coaches. When they present a religious exemption, it’s denied. You’ve heard that before, right? This case is similar but it includes some Dr. Fauci-esque flip-flopping…

A starter on the State University of New York – Cortland Red Dragons football team (who would like to remain anonymous) was originally approved to play football for the upcoming season with his religious exemption from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The school accepted this exemption, but the Empire 8 Conference swooped in, said it wouldn’t be accepted, and gave him an ultimatum.

Here’s how the player explained the situation:

“I had my religious exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine approved by my school and I was allowed to play football, the sport that I love and has gotten me to where I’m at in life today. As of last week, my coaches brought it to my attention that my religious exemption has been “denied by the athletic conference” and I had two days to get the vaccine or I was off the team.”

After speaking with his coach, who specified that the athletic conference required all athletes to have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before a certain date, he was forced into a career-altering decision: Get the jab or lose your job. From sources at the university, this has now become a requirement, under no circumstances will exemptions be accepted.

He goes on to state how authoritarian this decision is, how heartbreaking this situation has been, but the silver lining is, he stands firm in his beliefs and does not back down even when he is forced to make a decision that would end his career at SUNY Cortland:

“Realizing that it is essentially no longer my body and my choice, I have a life-changing decision to make, either get it and potentially risk my long term health and if I get it, I’m going back on everything I believe in and if I get it, I am not taking a stand and being an example for someone else that is in my shoes facing the same life-changing decision. This is America, the land of the free and it should be your body and your choice and no matter if you are harassed and coerced, you must make your own medical decisions… The other part of me is thinking that if I don’t get it and I stand on my ground, then I am missing out on playing college football and missing out on a dream I have worked my whole life to chase.”

If that is not courageous, I don’t know what is.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, NO ONE should be forced or shamed into taking the vaccine. If you want to take it, go for it, but shaming someone into thinking they’re immoral for refusing schools, leagues, businesses, and government vaccine mandates is wrong and disgusting. Sadly, we are seeing this from college to the pros.

Former NFL quarterback, Josh McCown is tossing hot takes from his couch, recently telling reporters that Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousin’s decision to not take the vaccine “takes away from some of [his] ability to lead.”

In the same vein, here’s what the SUNY Cortland player’s coach did at a team meeting:

“My coach even called me out in a meeting saying I am the only member of the team unvaccinated.”

That is the definition of shameful and terrible leadership, in my opinion. Call players out for missing a block, not giving 100% in practice, but airing someone’s private medical information out for all to know should not be tolerated.

“They blackballed me, took me off of all my starting spots; I don’t even know what to do anymore,” the player sadly stated after exhausting all of his options.

Turning Point USA does have representation on campus and a Field Representative, Jack Rafferty, explained their disappointment in the school and athletic conference, “I personally feel frustrated to hear about [his] situation. This guy is making a huge sacrifice that could potentially cost him his whole college career… he’s in the starting lineup on his football team at SUNY Cortland. He and many other students are struggling by debating whether they should get an experimental vaccine or not. He’s the anomaly of students that have chosen not to get vaccinated, while at the same time, sacrificing his passion for his core beliefs. I’m shocked by his decision, but I’m incredibly proud to represent a student that has such boldness and the courage to carry on while in the face of persecution. I told him that while he may be persecuted, he will also see abundant blessings to follow!”

There has been no word on whether transferring is an option or how he will be moving forward as this news is still fresh, but know you have our full support. It’s devastating to hear stories like this, but I write this in hopes that change can be enacted as well as use this young man’s story as an example of how to courageously fight back against these ridiculous policies no matter the consequences.

He has worked his whole life to play college ball and now that is being ripped away. Not because of injury. Not because he isn’t the best player for the job. All of this nonsense for a vaccine that we don’t know how it could negatively affect his play. He has every right to refuse and a religious exemption should hold its weight.

No one should have to choose between the jab and their job.