This year several of the conference networks have been showing ‘classic’ games and the schools hosting online parties to watch, get comments from the players in those games, update everyone on where those players are today. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of those. Not sure they’ll bring in the same advertising revenues (of course they won’t) but it was sure fun to watch The Miracle in Michigan and some other big games.
I’m sure the college networks and ESPN will come up with something.
No one knows for sure but many people at this point are saying if the Big 12 cancels or postpones football this fall, the ACC and SEC will not really have a choice and will do the same. Majority of Power 5 conferences playing is ok but if majority are not playing, you don’t want to be playing and you don’t want to be the last conference still playing. SEC and ACC stated today that their plans have not changed; still planning to play this fall. But that can change. Initially the SEC wasn’t on board with Big 10 going with conference only schedule only to be shortly thereafter doing the same. We shall see. Big 12 supposedly meeting tonight.
C’mon face reality…none of them are playing. Way too much liability. It;s not about safety or public health, it’s about liability plain and simple.
You have young, very healthy people in phenomenal shape. Statistically, they would fare much better than most if they got the virus. Yes, we don’t know what long term effects are, but we don’t know that about a lot of things. But it takes one kid getting sick and the lawsuits follow. No way to keep them from spreading it unless you go into a bubble like the NBA. Schools aren’t set up to do that.
“Notre Dame avoid being too hard on itself, I would think the Big 12 would have been the better option”
One of ND’s reasoning for not joining the big-10 was it didn’t fit with the large public flagships and the ACC had more colleges like ND - Duke, BC, Wake, Miami. So I doubt they join the big-12.
The 538 article which was linked a couple pages back said that Notre Dame doesn’t contend for a national title in football on a regular basis because they play too hard a schedule. If you know many ND fans, you likely hear similar things from them as well. But if you step back into reality, you see that what keeps them from contending for national titles is an inability in the last couple decades to beat top 10 or even top 20 teams. If you can’t do that, you won’t contend for titles.
Article went on to say that joining the ACC would effectively keep ND from playing too tough a schedule which would thus allow them to contend for titles on a regular basis. Other than Clemson, ACC isn’t very strong in football. But that is a huge Other. Clemson is one of the best, if not the best, college football program right now. Having to beat them to reach the playoff (possible twice depending on how the divisions/conferenc title game participants are determined) is very tall order.
But if you buy into the idea that ND will contend for football titles on regular basis, I think it would make more sense to join the Big 12 which doesn’t have any true dominant teams. Certainly no one on the level of Clemson. That is saying nothing about other reasons to join or not join any given conference.
Except for that little small complication that might make them die when they played their sports. Myocardial inflammation is no joke, and as we learn more about the sequelae of covid, it’s looking more and more like that complication happens to a not inconsiderable number of people who get covid.
That’s exactly right. And the ensuing long-term heart complications could easily end the playing career of anyone infected with Covid-19. Like many young people, college football players might feel invulnerable, but in fact they’re not. The coaches appear willing to play Russian roulette with the lives and health of these young people. College administrators are not. Thank God the administrators still have the upper hand at most schools.
Not being flippant here, is the issue that they might get covid and play a sport, or that they might get covid which could have long lasting issues? If the former, how is that different than any athlete (at any level)? Is your primary concern they have an increased chance of getting covid because of team play? Should a recreational jogger not be going on 10 mile runs because they might get covid (from any activity they do in their normal day) and that might lead to a heart condition which wouldn’t be good for a runner?
A major concern with football–as opposed to some other activities such as golf or tennis–is the repeated close contact required by the sport. Tackling & huddling are the opposite of “social distancing”.
A runner can choose a 10 mile (or whatever) course that keeps ample social distancing from others to minimize the risk of getting or giving COVID-19. However, some sports like football, basketball, hockey, wrestling, etc. involve frequent close contact, typically with the same other players on the same or other team, increasing the risk of getting or giving COVID-19.
Also, in football it is common to share the same water bottle, towels, locker room, weight room, sideline bench, classroom for viewing film, etc.
Football is a group activity during which blood, sweat, & spit are often unintended by-products of slamming into one another from several different angles.
P.S. Plus, sometimes coaches feel compelled to get in the face of a player and scream. Of course, it is all constructive criticism, but it does not comport with the guidelines of social distancing.
In the same vein:
A few days ago, a photo was circulated as a news story on the internet showing a drill sergeant yelling at a new enlistee from behind a plexiglass window. Probably not as much fun as the in-your-face-screaming technique, but we all have to make sacrifices in this time of an uncontrolled pandemic.
Ultimately, the Big 10 and Pac 12 postponed/canceled fall sports. Wasn’t limited to football players. And from what I have seen, at least some of the schools are testing all athletes who test positive for Covid for heart issues. If they find any, no/limited physical activity for 3-6 months and then re-evaluate. Covid may cause heart issues. Not sure yet how long term they may be. No matter the sport. Or even if a non-athlete. Though certain activities may increase your risk of getting Covid (some of them sports and others not).
I understand the team sport issue (especially with covid), but lots of people are doing lots of things that increase exposure. Simple friend gatherings. HS graduation parties.
Going to crowded supermarkets. I think the person who typically isn’t socially distancing as a rule (lots of them out there) have essentially the same exposure, probably more, because the players have been tested and will get additional tests. The other person I describe is totally unaware of the situation. If that person happens to be active in exercise, don’t they have the same risks as the football player (covid created heart condition, exertion , etc.)?
We can’t stop all these people from doing these things, including the football players that will do these same things off the field. That brings me back to my original point. This is simply about liability. That football player could easily catch covid off the field through daily activity. But because he’s a football player at X, the school gets sued if they’re playing. Not worth the risk (liability, not medical). That same school will have many non athletes contract covid. They will have the same potential long term effects. probably not do as well with them as they are not in as good shape going in. Their exercise program will be at least as dangerous as playing football with covid.
My daughter will be an athlete at a Big 10 school this fall. We literally just finished a zoom call with the Sports Medicine guy and he said part of the physical will be EKG and more extensive cardiac evaluations.