Covid-19 and College Athletics

[jakejc795]

In the protocol the NBA is using to start their season, if a player tests positive he is quarantined and the rest of the team keeps playing. But they are going to test every player every day. And all the teams and their personnel are basically already quarantined at the Disney complex.

That's feasible for the NBA, but with universities one has to consider the optics and possible detrimental impact of testing athletes and staff, possibly using university funding, when faculty and students are unlikely to be afforded similar opportunities. The NBA faced controversy earlier in the year when they were testing players while there was a nationwide shortage of tests.

Then, as mentioned previously, you could have some schools/conferences testing more rigorously than others. Lastly, colleges and universities present other risks in the form of commuter students, faculty, and staff who may inadvertently transmit the virus, especially if they do not take steps to mitigate risks.

[bigticket1]

Among the half dozen schools known to reportedly have individuals test positive.

I'd be curious what the ramifications would be if opponents determined that teams on their schedule were testing at reduced frequency, testing smaller samples of athletes/staff, etc. Could those with more robust testing regimens make the case that the upcoming games should be canceled because lax testing puts others at risk?

In the protocol the NBA is using to start their season, if a player tests positive he is quarantined and the rest of the team keeps playing. But they are going to test every player every day. And all the teams and their personnel are basically already quarantined at the Disney complex.

[jakejc795]

It's been reported that several Alabama players tested positive when they reported to campus this week.

Among the half dozen schools known to reportedly have individuals test positive.

I'd be curious what the ramifications would be if opponents determined that teams on their schedule were testing at reduced frequency, testing smaller samples of athletes/staff, etc. Could those with more robust testing regimens make the case that the upcoming games should be canceled because lax testing puts others at risk?

[bigticket1]

It's been reported that several Alabama players tested positive when they reported to campus this week.

[Nidaros]

The story you originally linked to includes a link to this article, which mentions faculty at EWU advocating drop to DII or DIII, while such extreme moves seem highly unlikely, it's telling that the university's own faculty are advocating it, and it seems likely they'd find support among fiscally austere legislators and alumni.

Filbert mentioned distance/online learning as a focal point, and assuming it is, the budget dynamics of those course offerings, reduced room/board, etc. could only exacerbate strife between athletics and academics.

The strife between academics and athletics is the wake up call for all institutions at all levels. Can SDSU have both? I think so if we are careful. I am sure President Dunn is weighing this issue carefully and let us hope for a business as usual day.

[Nidaros]

The story you originally linked to includes a link to this article, which mentions faculty at EWU advocating drop to DII or DIII, while such extreme moves seem highly unlikely, it's telling that the university's own faculty are advocating it, and it seems likely they'd find support among fiscally austere legislators and alumni.

Filbert mentioned distance/online learning as a focal point, and assuming it is, the budget dynamics of those course offerings, reduced room/board, etc. could only exacerbate strife between athletics and academics.

The strife between academics and athletics is the wake up call for all institutions at all levels. Can SDSU have both? I think so if we are careful. I am sure President Dunn is weighing this issue carefully and let us hope for a business as usual day.

[jakejc795]

The NCAA will no doubt be receive a bunch of waivers to consider. I assume all is well at SDSU so far. I have heard that if season play is cancelled, those who have prepaid will not get refunds in the mail. The prepaid revenue will be applied to next year. So SDSU would have free use of prepaid season tickets money for a year. Not ideal but that is most likely how it will work. Nothing official, but don’t be surprised if it works out this way.

ISU seems to be handling ticket refunds considerably differently, even going so far as to allow those who purchase 2020 season tickets and later decide they are uncomfortable attending to receive refunds.

[bigticket1]

Wright State is being affected, too. Dropping softball and men's and women's tennis. They will need to pursue a waiver from the NCAA to continue as a D1 institution because this does not meet the needed team requirements.

https://wsuraiders.com/news/2020/6/3...m-changes.aspx

Non-football schools must be really feeling the pinch. With basketball being their only real revenue producing sport, not getting that share of the pie from the NCAA tournament has to be a big blow.

[jakejc795]

The NCAA will no doubt be receive a bunch of waivers to consider. I assume all is well at SDSU so far. I have heard that if season play is cancelled, those who have prepaid will not get refunds in the mail. The prepaid revenue will be applied to next year. So SDSU would have free use of prepaid season tickets money for a year. Not ideal but that is most likely how it will work. Nothing official, but don’t be surprised if it works out this way.

The story you originally linked to includes a link to this article, which mentions faculty at EWU advocating drop to DII or DIII, while such extreme moves seem highly unlikely, it's telling that the university's own faculty are advocating it, and it seems likely they'd find support among fiscally austere legislators and alumni.

Filbert mentioned distance/online learning as a focal point, and assuming it is, the budget dynamics of those course offerings, reduced room/board, etc. could only exacerbate strife between athletics and academics.

[Nidaros]

Wright State is being affected, too. Dropping softball and men's and women's tennis. They will need to pursue a waiver from the NCAA to continue as a D1 institution because this does not meet the needed team requirements.

https://wsuraiders.com/news/2020/6/3...m-changes.aspx

The NCAA will no doubt be receive a bunch of waivers to consider. I assume all is well at SDSU so far. I have heard that if season play is cancelled, those who have prepaid will not get refunds in the mail. The prepaid revenue will be applied to next year. So SDSU would have free use of prepaid season tickets money for a year. Not ideal but that is most likely how it will work. Nothing official, but don’t be surprised if it works out this way.

[THE PRIDE IS BACK!!!]

I try this again. I just read on a FCS Facebook group that Eastern Washington was in financial trouble. Here is the link. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/20...risis-due-to-/

Wright State is being affected, too. Dropping softball and men's and women's tennis. They will need to pursue a waiver from the NCAA to continue as a D1 institution because this does not meet the needed team requirements.

https://wsuraiders.com/news/2020/6/3...m-changes.aspx

[Nidaros]

I try this again. I just read on a FCS Facebook group that Eastern Washington was in financial trouble. Here is the link. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/20...risis-due-to-/

[jakejc795]

I'm guessing many will opt not to attend, but I would guess they'll be selling their tickets for a pretty penny with a limited number available. Crazy to think that someone with season tickets and lower priority may have to keep them in order to keep building priority, but purchase tickets on top of their season tickets just to go to the game.

I'd hope that those those having requisite priority level but not planning to attend due to COVID would have option of "tolling" their priority ranking until 2021 while opening up the seats for lower priority individuals who would attend.

An alternative would be to allow folks to forego any refund if they won't attend games this season due to safety concerns to allow receipt of a credit for 2021 tickets. Then their seats could be available for 2020 only.

[CappinHard]

Ohio State has mentioned using their points system to prioritize access.

A related question is what percentage of season ticket holders will opt not to attend.

I'm guessing many will opt not to attend, but I would guess they'll be selling their tickets for a pretty penny with a limited number available. Crazy to think that someone with season tickets and lower priority may have to keep them in order to keep building priority, but purchase tickets on top of their season tickets just to go to the game.

[jakejc795]

Ohio State has mentioned using their points system to prioritize access.

A related question is what percentage of season ticket holders will opt not to attend.