On the same day that a Florida State player spoke out publicly regarding the lack of safe playing conditions at training camp in Tallahassee and a lack of overall leadership within the Seminole football program, Syracuse’s football team failed to show up to practice due to training camp conditions within their program.

It’s not a great sign for the ACC that two of its programs are having issues this early into camp, although many FSU players have since come forward and issued their belief that things in Tallahassee are being run well during camp, but this is the latest sign that college football players realize the power they have and are finding new ways to exercise it.

According to Niko Tamurian of CNY Central, who first broke the news of Syracuse players refusing to show up to practice, the Orangemen are concerned about the current COVID protocols in place at the school.

This is the third practice the Orangemen have failed to show up for in recent days.

“Syracuse Football did NOT practice today as scheduled. SU Athletics confirmed this to me tonight. Sources tell me it’s not expected to be a long hiatus but was something Orange players wanted to shore up their fight to stay safe from the virus (protocols),” Tamurian shared.

Tamurian’s report was backed up by Stephen Bailey of Syracuse.com, who notes Syracuse is currently only testing its players every other week.

“Source: Syracuse’s players did not practice today. They want more frequent in-house testing during the preseason. HC Dino Babers said previously that SU has been testing every other week. The team is currently getting tested & players don’t plan to suit up until results are in,” Bailey reported.

With the SEC scheduled to start training camp on Monday, the league would be wise to look at the ACC and do its best to avoid any issues like this next week. If these leagues are serious about playing football in the fall, they have to make sure the players believe in the systems in place, and thus far, it doesn’t look like that’s the case at at least two ACC programs.