College football 2020 offseason thread

I understand and appreciate most of your arguments on here. Not this one. I still can't get the logic behind "the media is out to kill college football," especially since the absence of college football will be a huge financial hit for the media. Especially ESPN.

All the non-Power 5 leagues are pulling the plug because of the economics and health concerns of the pandemic (in that order). The Big 10 and Pac-12 have their stated medical reasons and unstated anti-student organizing reasons for canceling fall football.

If the spread of COVID-19 cases continues as campuses re-open, and serious health issues among some athletes continue because of the virus, the other three leagues probably will pull the plug, too.

 

Let’s boil this down to simple terms: All this shit ends if two prominent name players or head coaches die.

I say two because if one dies, it’s an outlier and everyone will want to rally around and win one for The Gipper.

 

The right-wing screech media, along with its affiliate forces in fratbro sports radio, are trying to boil the whole issue of the B1G returning to play, or not, down to Gretchen Whitmer.

 

What could go wrong?

Florida State will allow tailgating at football games this season

 

Good God! You have to ask? People might actually enjoy themselves! And we’re not talking about burning down some children’s hospital, either! This would be just ordinary schlubs having beers and brats in a well-ventilated outdoors setting at which it’s all but certain risk is minimized. We can’t have that sort of thing!

 

Much better to keep them eating and drinking with friends inside their stuffy homes until it's time to leave for the game.

 

Yeah, tailgating is the least of my concerns. I think the best compromise is to open up the parking lots for tailgating and not play the games.

 

Allow tailgating, but then have them watch the game on big screen TVs in the parking lot rather than enter the stadium. No matter how much they limit seating, those inside are gonna bunch up. It's human nature.

 

Or realize if it is too dangerous to have kids in class, then it’s too dangerous to have athletes in weight rooms, meeting rooms and other places.

 

This will be interesting to watch. UAB is in a unique position. Playing at Legion Field has become a positive for once. Average attendance runs around 28-30k in a stadium that seats 70k. Season ticket holders have been re-seated, with groups purchased together sitting together and spaced out with empty rows between the rows that hold spectators. Band and students in one end zone, visitors and walk up tickets in the other.

I don't know how they are going to enforce that spacing once the game starts, and I have no idea if there will be concessions. I don't see how they can do that without lines. The formal tailgating spaces normally sold outside are discontinued. I'm sure that people will do some tailgating where their cars are parked, old school. My tailgating group (which normally buys eight or so spots together) has proposed the core group pre-gaming at the home of one of the members, who has a large back yard bordered by a city park and an open carport. Lots of area to disperse. We probably won't do that, as like them and trust them or not, it's still a group of people in time of Covid - but that's the plan.

Last I heard about 85% of last season' season ticket holders renewed, which will help the budget strain somewhat. I'm certain that part of that has to do with preserving priority when getting their seats in the new stadium opening next season.

I don't know whether we will try to attend any games or not. Our season tickets are as safe as you can imagine, in handicap seating on the upper rim of the upper deck, no one near, but access to that level requires taking a small elevator up which hundreds to thousands of others will be using. I'm thinking TV/radio for most of the season, assuming that there is one.

 

Iowa says they're talking a $100m loss on athletics. They're cutting men's gymnastics, men and women's swimming and diving, and men's tennis.

Iowa cuts four sports programs with pandemic causing major budget shortfall

 

If and when wrestling gets the axe, stuff will be getting serious in Iowa City.