College football 2020 offseason thread

The NAIA has done a very NAIA thing.

 

I can't see how, looking at the flustercluck MLB has become, how college football and the NFL can even think of having a season, given the larger rosters and inability to police players behavior 24/7.

 

Shrug. They're going to try it, and then we'll be subjected to the same sort of drip drip drip of bad news, players infected, quarantines, hospitalized until they are finally forced to give it up.

I just hope no players die. It seems all but certain that some will get it and suffer lasting damage, given the numbers.

 

I guess the thinking is everyone deserves a chance to prove they are or aren't a fuck up.

 

LOOK: College football teams unveil helmet with splash guards to protect players from COVID-19
If these things work, that's an important development in the safety of the sport.
But it's not yet clear how widely they will be embraced. This story notably fails to mention that the ACC medical advisory board, for example, isn't ready to recommend or mandate the use of these products.
In football, face shields are being developed to assist in reducing any potential spread of the virus and several institutions are currently testing those shields. At the current time, the group does not recommend mandating face shields due to the relatively short period of time to validate these products. If a face shield is developed that does not create other safety concerns for the student-athlete (e.g., fogging of shield, increased heat in the helmet), and is an effective method to reduce the spread of the virus, these may be used as a face covering.

Case Study 1,564 of how the NCAA is failing to lead on this. They have a medical committee. Why hasn't that committee weighed in on the recommendation issue? Lastly: If these things are deemed safe and effective, there has to be a way the NCAA can cover the costs.

 

Mark Ingram, UAB's AD, did an interview with the local sports radio station this morning. While this is G5 oriented, I thought there might be some interest in what he had to say. Home game versus Alabama A&M has been cancelled, home opener vs. New Mexico St. is dubious. Quotes lifted from UAB bulletin board. Legion Field seating 70k becomes an advantage as home attendance is usually in the high 20k to low 30k range. Miami is a scheduled game already, the question is which of their three scheduled OOC teams they will play.

"Can't say anything definitively, but feels "very good" about UAB being Miami's one OOC game
-Hasn't had discussions with Miami about getting buyout money from a breach of contract because he feels good about playing the game
-Still planning on playing a 12 game schedule and actively trying to fill the spot left by AAMU. Probably with a team geographically close.
-CUSA is going with a flexible model of playing the regular 8 conference games and then allowing schools to play as many or few OOC games as they can/want to
-UAB has a testing advantage over the vast majority of schools due to connection to UAB hospital
-Currently looking at a 50% capacity model for Legion Field. Would allow us to accommodate most of the fan base though you may not sit in your normal seat
-Ticket sales/donations tracking at 85% of last year so not as big of a revenue hit (yet at least) as other schools are seeing. Said he's heard from several season ticket holders that are waiting to purchase until a plan is announced. Thinks we can close the revenue gap more when we have a plan to share.
-Said the NCAA may announce they're cancelling fall sports championships, but that doesn't automatically mean fall sports are cancelled. Gave the example that volleyball could still have a season and still have a conference tournament, but the champion just wouldn't go to the NCAA tournament if the NCAA doesn't hold a tournament."

"He said that that contingency plans were being made and that they are in discussions with teams at all levels (FCS G5, P5) about replacing our missing game and that things will probably fall in place pretty soon once the Miami game is finalized (If it is played, it may be moved up a week to our now open week of the A&M game) and the remaining conferences announce their plans."

 

I understand announcing the delays and all - but the only thing that may change in the current situation is human behavoir.

 

Pac 12 announces schedule.

EDIT: Territorial Cup and Varsity Bell games in Week 1, former Civil War in Week 4, Big Game in Week 5, Apple Cup in Week 10 ... if it gets that far.

 

By Week 5, it could be Cal's med students vs. Stanford's med students. And one sad trombone player.

 

They could play it at Kezar Stadium so everyone at UCSF can watch from the roof.

 

This story paints a clear picture for college football players. The powers to be haven't figured out much and "Good luck" to you guys willing to play.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/08/01/sec-football-players-safety-meeting/

It doesn't even seem like they are going to offer the players online-only options for classes this fall to at least reduce some of the daily risk of contracting the virus from other students.

 

Pretty mild stuff, really. But a season is increasingly hard to see, even as the games are on the schedule. When comments like "no guarantees" and "people will get this" - which is obvious scientific responses - are stirred up into something unsettling, just imagine what happens when a team does get an outbreak in the middle of the season.

I suspect the fall is going to be spent not playing football but talking - at length - about player advocacy, player rights, NIL, unions, demanding lifelong health insurance, etc.