Forgive me if this has been discussed - DS’s coach seems to be messaging BAU at this time, as he should. Just wondering if anyone has heard or has an opinion on this topic, specifically for Nescac play. Saw several good articles today on the topic, but they were more geared towards D1 football and the choices ADs and administrations will have to make in terms of programs and priorities.
And of course the question is relevant for all fall sports, but my kiddo is on the gridiron…
My understanding is that these decisions will be made in the June/July timeframe. So much depends on conditions and policy responses over the next few months that it’s hard to guess. I could easily see travel for fall sports, even in the absence of fans, being deemed too great a risk of an outbreak on campus and local communities, even if we are all in the containment phase of this. Canceling fall sports would be an easier decision for NESCAC than, say, SEC, given the radically different financial calculus. Doesn’t seem like something D3 presidents would deem worth the risk, and it’s quite possible they won’t have the choice as state/regional plans will determine a lot (and in that sense I see the regional cooperative frameworks emerging among west coast, Midwest, northeast states as a positive, in that if presidents do in fact get to make the decision they will have a relatively uniform framework affecting most of the league rather than a patchwork of state responses).
That’s just my two cents. A lot of time ahead for things to change.
Very small likelihood it will be a “normal season” IMHO. Williams (probably similar to several other D3 LACs)announced that they will make a go/no go decision on reopening in the fall by July 1. Several potential scenarios: 1) Colleges do not reopen and there are no fall sports 2) Colleges could reopen, but decide not to have fall sports 3) Fall sports happen, but no fans allowed (with live streaming video). 4) A portion of the league schools decides to open, so there is a shortened season.
To have a ‘regular’ start to the season, they have to get to practice by about July 1. I think if there is any season at all, even for D1, it will be conference games only and those usually don’t start until late Sept or Oct.
Practice by July 1? D3 teams don’t report until mid-August in any year.
I’m getting a gut feeling that fall sports will not occur. With credible folks predicting a high likelihood of another outbreak in the fall (albeit with better response/outcomes), can’t see college administrators introducing another risk factor - sports - into the mix, especially at the Nescac academic level. Even if everyone is back on campus.
The big D1 conferences will find away to play football even if it means quarantining the staff and players because the TV revenue is so great. Everyone else will most likely not play.
Agreed - D1 schools took a massive revenue hit with the cancellation of March madness, it really becomes a business priority for them to find a path to a football season. Add booster/alumni pressure, and u find a way to get there. These issues are fairly muted in the Nescac and most other D3 programs. Interesting to see the Ivy approach…
CU (and I think some other PAC 12 schools) have said that the school will not have only athletes report to school; if the school doesn’t return for in person classes, there will not be fall sports (or any until the students return).
Schools also cancelled spring football, and now can’t report until after July 1. CU has only online this summer and has cancelled most other events (Shakespeare fest, 4th of July fireworks, all youth camps) for the summer. They don’t expect anyone on campus until at least Aug 1.