Alim McNeill: "We Want To Play Football"
NC State junior defensive tackle Alim McNeill discussed a myriad of topics during the first week of fall football camp.
Has anyone on the team discussed what the Big-10 and the Pac-12 have been discussing as it pertains to not having a season?
Nobody’s spoken out about opting out or anything like that. We feel like we have a lot to prove with ourselves and our team. We don’t really see [opting out] as an option right now. We just want to put the work in, grind, and do everything the protocols tell us to do for COVID-19 so we can play the season.
All of us want to play. There’s no opting out; it’s not really an option right now. We’re not thinking about that.
What are your thoughts on getting named to Bruce Feldman’s 2020 College Football “Freaks” list?
It’s very honorable, and I greatly accept it. A lot of work has been put into it. It’s just another stepping stool for me honestly. I like to have it in my back pocket. I don’t really think about it much or try to brag about it, but it’s pretty cool to see myself on that list.
How are the players policing themselves to ensure the entire roster is following social distancing protocols?
We make sure we hone in on guys not doing anything that’s not smart that can hinder us from having a season. Nobody wants to be that guy to possibly catch something or spread it. Nobody wants to be that guy. We know we want to play the season, and we’d much rather play football than do anything else, to be honest. I know guys want to have fun, and it’ll be tough.
Guys want to have fun, go out, and do this and that, but if we want to play a season and make a name for ourselves at NC State, we’ve got to do what’s smart and keep our heads in line.
How does the team deal with the uncertainty of whether or not the season will actually take place?
We’re keeping that laser focus. Times are crazy right now. They’re a lot different than what it is usually, but we just take it by the day. Whatever happens happens, obviously. We can’t control much, but we can control the controllable and do what we have to do.
We see all that stuff. It’s hard not to see it. We want to be safe, but we want to play football.
What are some of the ways that the team is enforcing protocol in practice?
They’ve spilt us up between offense and defense. We never really cross paths with the offense when we’re doing anything whether we’re going to the weight room or going to a meeting. Post-practice, we have to drop our stuff off in the indoor facility to get sprayed and sanitized. Then we’ll hit the cold tubs and whatnot, and the offense has to wait.
They won’t allow the offense in the building with us so there aren’t a lot of people in the same area. Anywhere we go, we have to have a mask, and that’s heavily enforced outside and in the building. There have been a lot of changes, but it’s been productive so far.