We’re less than two months away from the scheduled start of the 2020 college football season, but as the coronavirus pandemic shows no signs of subsiding – and instead is escalating in terms of cases in certain areas across the country – it remains to be seen whether college sports can feasibly occur this year. According to NCAA President Mark Emmert, the data isn’t looking too hot.
On Thursday, the NCAA Sport Science Institute released a new set of “return to sport” guidelines for schools, which recommends “daily self-health checks,” wearing face coverings, and for coronavirus tests and results within 72 hours of any “high contact risk sports,” such as football. With case numbers spiking in many locations, though, Emmert made it clear there’s no guarantee that college football or other fall sports will actually happen.
“Today, sadly, the data point in the wrong direction. If there is to be college sports in the fall, we need to get a much better handle on the pandemic.”
It’s fine to root for a return to normalcy, as we all are, but the situation has changed drastically over the last month, as the United States has surpassed 3.5 million total coronavirus cases and many states have reverted to stricter lockdown policies in response. Earlier this week, LSU coach Ed Orgeron made the case to visiting Vice President Mike Pence that the “country needs” college football this year, and that it would be unfair to take away from his players. Just last month, it was reported that more than 30 of Orgeron players were quarantined.
Making professional sports work amid a pandemic is one thing. The NBA can afford to drop millions per day on a bubble environment to protect its players. Keeping a team of 100+ players healthy at dozens of different college environments operating under various policies and with radically different resources at hand is a completely different problem, and one that’s potentially unsolvable.
Friday’s biggest winners: Tobias Harris and Boban Marjanovic
Former Pistons, Clippers and Sixers teammates Tobias Harris and Boban Marjanovic are a fan favorite duo, and the close friends have been able to reunite inside the NBA’s bubble at Disney World in Orlando. The pair had gone through some faux-social media drama after Boban landed with the Mavericks, but Marjanovic made everything right by sending Harris a bubble birthday gift.
Quick hits: Danica and Aaron Rodgers reportedly split, the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott mess, and Daniel Snyder needs to go.
— After two years, Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers have broken up, according to a report from E!
— Our Steven Ruiz has a fascinating breakdown of how the Dallas Cowboys are betting against Dak Prescott and could end up paying an incredible price.
— Following a bombshell Washington Post report, it’s once again clear that Washington NFL owner Daniel Snyder needs to be made to sell his team.