[jwplayer X4xbMYwa]
We are finally nearing the end of a tumultuous week, to say the least, as college football — and collegiate athletics as a whole — tries to find its footing heading into fall while the novel coronavirus pandemic rages on.
Presumably, the biggest issue currently being worked out is the health and safety of athletics participants, as well as the university student bodies as a whole. Josh Kendall over at The Athletic scolds the Southeastern Conference for the silence of its medical advisors while USA TODAY Sports’ Dan Wolken suggests that college football programs need to get comfortable with transparency or risk losing credibility. The long-story-short version is that there is a credibility problem that is not just going to go away.
Dr. Carlos Del Rio, one of the NCAA's chief medical advisors, on whether he would go forward with fall sports: "We have a serious problem. I feel like the Titanic: we have hit the iceberg and we’re trying to make decisions of when the band should play."
— Laine Higgins (@lainehiggins17) August 13, 2020
Speaking of silence, prestigious academic schools Duke and Notre Dame have been conspicuously quiet thus far in the process as football presses on. And at fell ACC school Florida State, there appears to be some trouble brewing below the surface as well.
— UNO.UNO🦅 (@Warrenj11__) August 13, 2020
On Thursday, the NCAA Division I Council announced that all fall sports championships have been postponed due to COVID-19. Make note that this does not affect football postseason play, as those are conducted under the supervision of a different governing body. Additionally, the council also recommended eligibility relief for athletes who lose seasons due to COVID-19 pandemic, which “the Council members are working to create additional flexibility for college athletes whose seasons have been negatively impacted by the pandemic,” said Council chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletic director at the University of Pennsylvania.
Finally, Paul Myerberg wonders as spring college football becomes the focus for some conferences if it can possibly work. It is one of many pressing questions facing the sports world as we enter the middle of August.
Around the Swamp
- Answering five major questions facing Florida Gators fans: As we try to make sense of the recent announcements by college sports administrators around the country, fans of the Florida Gators certainly have some questions regarding the upcoming season.
- The Athletic complimentary of the Florida Gators’ latest work on football recruiting trail: Releasing his latest “This week in recruiting” article on August 12, The Athletic’s Ari Wasserman praised the recent work of head coach Dan Mullen and the rest of his Florida Gators coaching staff on the recruiting trail.
- SEC must decide if it wants to fight a world war in college sports: As with any decision to enter a war, one must consider the damage and the cost first, before considering the possible upside of victory.
It’s great to be a Florida Gator!
Challenge accepted! #IPledgeFloridahttps://t.co/IjM7VtVJrw https://t.co/iPKV1RdzVJ pic.twitter.com/qkGO4Vp925
— W. Kent Fuchs (@PresidentFuchs) August 13, 2020
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