Covid Report: Return To Play Likely
Big Ten officials met over the weekend and, per about every college football reporter on Twitter, it's likely that the league will reinstate the season in short order.
Sources: Big Ten meeting has been productive in terms of medical plan and maintaining momentum toward playing this fall. Vote has not taken place yet; could still happen tonight or tomorrow. Some schools already setting practice schedules in preparation for October kickoff.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) September 13, 2020
October 17th is not set in stone but is the most likely date for a restart. That would apparently allow an eight-game schedule and a conference title game on December 19th, the day before the playoff field is announced. (How the playoff is going to deal with a conference that has played zero nonconference games is unknown.)
Rumors that some schools would choose to sit out are unfounded; all fourteen Big Ten schools will resume if any do.
[After THE JUMP: rapid testing]
The advent of rapid point-of-contact testing is the key:
The presidents and chancellors — all 14 of whom make up the ruling body of the Big Ten — heard presentations about medical advances, especially in the area of testing that have taken place since the league voted 11-3 to indefinitely delay the fall football season and other fall sports Aug. 11. The availability of rapid response tests has increased since the Big Ten voted to close the season down. That, sources said, is a key mover towards a restart.
The ability to quickly identify infected players and quarantine them—and only them—would allow an only slightly farcical season to go forward.
Without it you're looking at what's going on across college football, plotting campus case rates, and ruefully shaking your head. Virginia Tech has already seen season openers against first North Carolina State and then Virginia postponed. Oklahoma was missing several starters for its season opener against Missouri State. OU's coronavirus outbreak prompted Lincoln Riley to say his school would no longer release test results because doing so was a "competitive disadvantage." Memphis halted football activities after quarantining much of the team. A party bus is rumored to be involved. In the Big Ten, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Maryland have paused football workouts.
Rapid testing wouldn't prevent covid cases from knocking out key players. It would prevent the current situation where a few positive tests force teams to quarantine large swaths of a team or entirely shut down activity. Big Ten athletes would still be at risk for myocarditis, which may knock out 10-20% of players who come down with covid. The season is still going to be massively compromised.
But it'll exist.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:01 AM ^
Unless Justin Fields decides to throw in the towel I will assume that OSU will just boat race everyone. Day knows with fewer games he will need to run up the score every game to get into the playoffs. Rumor was Davis would come back if October was the start date.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:24 AM ^
Also if you've been around for the last decade... You do realize that if Fields isn't around for any reason, whoever replaces him at QB for OSU would be basically the love child of Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson.
Until he goes pro and subsequently becomes a benchwarmer
September 14th, 2020 at 1:09 PM ^
Lol very true...and went Day leaves somehow an even better coach will signup and recruit even better....terrible.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:17 AM ^
Yeah I'm not counting on that. They have insane talent at this point, probably better than peak 'Bama under Saban, so I'll believe it when I see it that they won't be anything other than a football Death Star.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:58 PM ^
God is on the side of the biggest battalions.
Until further notice, those are in Columbus.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:16 PM ^
if we beat them this year, everyone who isn't a Michigan partisan will say it didn't count
September 14th, 2020 at 1:47 PM ^
They're down an OL and their best CB, which is the same as M. So that only levels them up with our opt outs and at best is a push. Which brings us back to them probably being heavy favorites. The only positive is that they won't have a full stadium? Maybe less of a home field advantage? I'm going with that. I'm always overly optimistic about The Game though. Michigan can win that game. So we'll see. Hopefully it happens.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:51 PM ^
Day is just as good as Meyer. Maybe better. There will be no drop off. OSU is a machine that cannot be stopped.
September 14th, 2020 at 2:19 PM ^
I like seeing your inner optimist return.
I figure they'll lose to Purdue (if they play them) but be ready for us as always.
September 14th, 2020 at 7:25 PM ^
With the amount of close games and bad bounces that have gone against Michigan the last couple years, I think we can definitively say that God is NOT on our side.
September 14th, 2020 at 10:43 AM ^
The big ten always had the option to get test results back fairly rapidly. They could have quite easily set up on campus and gotten 384 test results in around 3 hours.
September 14th, 2020 at 4:35 PM ^
I've assumed they could get this done if they wanted, the lab tests aren't that time consuming, and most (not all) of these schools probably have their own labs.
I also assume whatever reasoning they come up with is just handwavium bullcrap to cover their butts. With no evidence whatsover other than human nature, I'll bet they assumed all the conferences would cancel so their decision would never really be questioned. I'm sure in the wealthy elite educators bubble world they inhabit there was little discussion of whether to play, but only as to when to cancel.
Now that the other stakeholders have weighed in, they just have to find the proper excuses to get this going again, so it doesn't look any worse than it already is. I'm sure most of you will buy their explanation.
September 14th, 2020 at 10:44 AM ^
On the one hand I miss Michigan Football desperately, on the other hand it seems like a generally bad idea to play football, or any sport, or have school open, etc right now.
September 14th, 2020 at 10:45 AM ^
I feel like postponing games isn't setting the right incentive for teams to be healthy. If you can't (or refuse) to keep your team healthy through good protocols or responsible behavior, you should forfeit to the team that did the right thing and had the right protocols. Or, play with covid-free replacements or out-of-position players (e.g. move a FB to the DL) and get obliterated.
Today, there's no punishment for having a loose protocol, it's just, like, "oopsies we haz too much covidz, we can play later?"
And, I recognize that this would motivate coaches to hide positive tests...this could be solved by an independent rapid tester pre-game. If you test positive, you can't play. If you can't field a team, you forfeit. This would lock shit up real quick, IMO.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:15 AM ^
I really see pre-game testing as a solid way to keep these contests COVID-free...every single player/coach/official is tested before taking the field, no exceptions.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:15 AM ^
I really see pre-game testing as a solid way to keep these contests COVID-free...every single player/coach/official is tested before taking the field, no exceptions.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:59 AM ^
This actually worth saying twice.
September 14th, 2020 at 10:49 AM ^
Wait, some people in the Shaun Wade thread said him opting out meant the season wasn't happening. I'm confused.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:53 AM ^
I think it’s a strong indicator that an October start is unlikely. Certainly could be wrong, but how else can you explain his timing?
September 14th, 2020 at 12:08 PM ^
He got tired of waiting and decided an advance on his future salary and not having to worry about school* sounded like a decent consolation?
*whatever you think that means at OSU
September 14th, 2020 at 1:17 PM ^
He doesn't know any more than we do.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:54 AM ^
It was just speculation. Folks figured the timing of Wade's announcement indicated he had inside information on the direction the B1G was moving.
The Occam's Razor explanation is that he waited a while to see what they would do, then decided "eff it" and hedged. I wonder what he's thinking now.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:03 PM ^
What do you mean, you wonder what he is thinking now? He announced this morning. Like just a few hours ago. All the news about the vote today was already available to him when he posted his statement this morning.
Are you implying that he didn't know of reports about an October start when he decided to opt out this morning??
September 14th, 2020 at 12:10 PM ^
I mean just what I said. I'm not implying anything. I wonder what he's thinking now. If that's getting you upset, you've got something on your mind that's bothering you way more than anything I'm saying.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:22 PM ^
Not upset, but your comment makes zero sense. He's thinking the same thing he did when he woke up this morning...I'm done playing college football. Nothing has changed in two hours.
But you keep on wondering if you like.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:32 PM ^
Thank you for your permission.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
Protecting my feels with a believe it when I see it attitude. Such a mix of emotions though
- I want Michigan football. Other college football doesn't do it for me, and the Lions proved yesterday only pain lies ahead there.
- Michigan/B1G made a smart choice to not have a fall season. Waiting till spring may still end up as the smart choice.
- Michigan made a horrible decision to bring students to campus.
- There is no reason that students can be on campus AND Michigan isn't playing football, so why cancel football at all?
September 14th, 2020 at 11:46 AM ^
Yep this is me too.
Big 10 abdicated any reason to play the safety card with football when all these member schools reopened their campuses in a barely veiled money play, local safety be damned
September 14th, 2020 at 11:25 AM ^
I'm so conflicted.
Michigan football is really the only sport I'm emotionally invested in, and I want to see these kids have the opportunity to play something they've worked their entire lives for, in the safest way possible.
I already watch these games with a "please God don't let anyone get hurt" mentality, so with this added COVID-related element, these games are going to be stressful to watch.
I'm sure a lot of these kids have mixed emotions right now, wanting to showcase their talents, along with not wanting to possibly contract a lifelong cardiac condition, on top of all the physical risks that come along with playing football at this level.
My heart goes out to them and their families during these most uncertain times.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:35 AM ^
Quit feeling so sorry for football players. What about the violinist at the UM School of Music who has dreams of playing for a major symphony orchestra, but is currently unable to play at Hill Auditorium or practice with the University orchestras? Same impact on their careers, but you don't see them and their parents pissing and moaning. I am so over these coddled athletes and their sense of entitlement.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:09 PM ^
Obviously the empathy extends beyond sports, but will do, thanks for letting me know how to feel.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:21 PM ^
Because doing what you suggest would require being intellectually honest about the weird, paternalistic way alumni and schools treat athletes and we'd all maybe question the foundations of this sport if we pursued this line of logic. Like it's only a small step from asking the question to having the realization that it's because, on some level, a lot of fans don't think the athletes belong at Michigan otherwise.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:43 AM ^
Coronabros taking another L.
Can’t wait Go Blue!
September 14th, 2020 at 12:06 PM ^
I was trying to think of a cool nickname for COVID deniers, but then I realized there is already a word for people like you: idiot.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:12 PM ^
There's a few others too...and for some reason I'm seeing a lot of these ad's on the blog now.
September 14th, 2020 at 4:21 PM ^
Not a denier. Close family friend passed away from it unfortunately. I just believe in the freedom of choice and don’t need other people protecting me like I’m an incapable child. If you feel like you need that, then stay home. Players that want to play don’t need people that live In perpetual fear like you telling them they can’t. If they want to opt out they have that ability.
September 14th, 2020 at 5:45 PM ^
Yeah man! That's why I choose to ignore stop signs, traffic signals, and fuck everyone else, I blare my stereo at 2am because that is what I WANT TO DO. Put in earplugs!
I am a spoiled American bitch that doesn't have to do anything for the good of society!
September 14th, 2020 at 6:15 PM ^
That’s why you wear a mask and social distance when possible and reasonable. If we shouldn’t play football because it’s not safe should we not drive because people die? Where does the line get drawn. If you don’t want to go to games or play that’s fine I don’t begrudge you. If reasonable people look at the data and decide they want to live their lives let them. Stop trying to control everybody and make them live by your world views.
September 14th, 2020 at 11:43 AM ^
so, good!
or, bad!
or, i dunno
September 14th, 2020 at 11:48 AM ^
"The presidents and chancellors heard presentations about medical advances..."
WOTS is that they were all pleasured by it.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
They found out how to touch themselves.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
They found out how to touch themselves.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:33 PM ^
They found out how to touch themselves.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:06 PM ^
Isn't the SEC going with a conference-only schedule? That will be less of an issue for the committee than dealing with a conference champ that plays fewer games than the other conferences.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:23 PM ^
Ah, but you're forgetting the committee thinks Alabama is better than their record by at least one less loss "because they play in the SEC," and every other team that plays them benefits.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^
If the season was going to be cancelled would we have had muppets instead of Henri? At least it gives Harbaugh a reason to keep practice going, testing and monitoring and keep the footbal players more isolated from the general student population. I wonder if the helmets can have full face shields attached?
September 14th, 2020 at 12:40 PM ^
This post was interspersed with that ad from Dr. Gundry about how to empty your bowels every day. Seemed fitting.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:46 PM ^
Will be interesting to see how the schedule is created, but chances are UM has one of the more difficult schedules of potential contenders with likely games against OSU, PSU, Wiscy, & Minnesota. But, at least Wade & Davis aren't playing. Now if we can only convince Fields to sit out we may get somewhere.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:51 PM ^
I hope that this decision is not based on people protesting the original call to cancel the season. That should have nothing to do with whether the teams play.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:16 PM ^
I'm pretty sure that's a large part of the reason. You don't see the Pac12 talking about a mid-October start right?
The presidents voted 11-3 not to play one month ago. Yes, there have been some testing improvements, but the biggest driver of this is clearly OSU throwing their weight around. They want their Natty and Heisman, and they'll have a very good chance to get at least one of them if they start in October. (The Heisman seems unlikely with Fields playing a truncated season, but who are the other top candidates really?).
So it sounds like 6 presidents were convinced to flip their vote so that we can watch OSU go 9-0, while racking up as many points as possible to ensure their playoff spot. Going to be a blast!
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