I Received the Dreaded Text - No Football, Hope he's wrong

Submitted by Bo Harbaugh on July 8th, 2020 at 9:54 PM

I never wanted to post as I am getting this info 3rd hand - a mid level guy at the AD.  Anyways, it's the most important developments I have some limited access to regarding football.

Go ahead and shoot the messenger.  I hope it doesn't go this route.

Per a contact at the AD, I was texted - "It's a no go."

I asked him to clarify - He said, "As of right now, there is no path to the fall season happening."

I asked for details and if it was still a possibility - He said, "Expect a statement next week from the B1G that everything is on hold, but the fall season is [as of right now] not happening.

I asked about the spring season - "Maybe, not discussed yet, still trying to pull off a miracle for the fall"

That's all I got. Sorry guys, it's shitty news.  I don't think it's definitive, but he has seems really bummed, and actually thinks he might lose his job too and there will be some cuts.

Downvote me to hell, I don't care, it all sucks anyways.

maizerayz

July 9th, 2020 at 12:23 AM ^

And with flu season starting as early as October, through March, without a vaccine I highly doubt we'll have football this year.

That being said, multiple promising vaccines are starting large scale tests, and production is ramping up even without the test results. So there is hope.

O S Who

July 9th, 2020 at 10:22 AM ^

If they let us treat the fall season as a typical "spring practice season" I think this is better for us in regard to football performance. I have no idea whether they will do that, but im just saying.

we are breaking in a new o-line and a new qb. not having spring practice was going to affect us pretty negatively with such a young team. although this sucks in regard to having to wait longer for football, i think it will yield better results on the field.

Bo Harbaugh

July 8th, 2020 at 11:14 PM ^

Not going to bs - I'm pretty depressed about this.  I know it's just a college sport and I shouldn't be so invested, but it's something I really enjoy with friends, and watching the big games with my dad is something I really cherish.  

We all knew it would be really different this year, but I was and still am (with delusional spirits) hoping they can put something safe out there that we can enjoy.  It's been a brutal year and sports really can help people feel connected and is a great outlet, especially during shitty times. 

xtramelanin

July 9th, 2020 at 5:34 AM ^

bo, i hear you man.  add to that my 4 oldest sons play football, one in college, one getting signif college recruiting, i have coached for a dozen years.  football is king in the XM house.  really hoping even a weird/short football season can happen. 

OfficerRabbit

July 9th, 2020 at 1:47 PM ^

If it happens at all, it's going to be such a distorted version of football it may be more frustrating than enjoyable to watch. Imagine the week before UM/MSU, and your first and second string QB's test positive.. what a kick in the dong that would be. Every team that plays will have to navigate that challenge, but still... could make for a very frustrating W/L column with a lot of asterisks denoting which players were available to play for which games.

xtramelanin

July 9th, 2020 at 2:25 PM ^

understanding that you and nittany are neck-and-neck for my favorite non-michigan mgoblogger, i don't care if you guys have to play with buckets on your head, i'd like to beat ohio for the first time in a long time.  and i'm not afraid of asterisks or footnotes relating to the asterisk detailing that you all had to wear buckets on your heads. 

xtramelanin

July 9th, 2020 at 5:57 PM ^

could happen.  now that you mention it, we could in fact lose to ohio even if they have buckets on their heads.  apparently you all have been preparing for this eventuality, as i see this appears to be ohio about to take the field...

Bucket Head Art: Mike Simi Creates an Army of Daydrunk Mannequins

Bo Harbaugh

July 9th, 2020 at 4:05 PM ^

Xtra, it just suck all around.  Sorry about your 4 sons.  I played in HS and it would have been devastating to lose a year.

I'm with you...even if it's local scrimmages against EMU, WMU, Toledo...would love to watch the kids play.

crg

July 9th, 2020 at 2:05 PM ^

Not too late to take it in a different direction... such as a "Choose Your Own Adventure Michigan 2020 Football Season"!

An excerpt:

"You are a day away from the season opener at Washington and you still have not settled on a starting quarterback.  Do you:

A) Choose to roll with Dylan McCaffrey, who did reasonably well in limited action last season until suffering a broken collarbone?  If you go with the "play it safe" move, go to page 27.

B) Choose to give Joe Milton a chance at the top job, though he wasn't ob the field much last year and this is a tough road game?  If you want to "roll the dice" with guy with the big arm, check out page 52.

C) Think that Cade MacNamarra has the raw talent to blow everyone else away, despite having never taken a college game snap?  If you like locker room turmoil, we suggest looking at page 89.

D)  Know in your heart that it is time to stop these childish games and get back in the real thing?  If you are part of "Team Jim Harbaugh, starting quarterback" - then you are not alone!  Tell the NCAA to piss off and come make you get off the field... afterwards turn to page 124 for a good time."

This book will be a goldmine.

(spoiler alert:  Michigan still finishes 3rd in the Big Ten East)

CityOfKlompton

July 8th, 2020 at 10:02 PM ^

I am not an insider, but from some cryptic tweets I've seen from adjacent staff in the biz (sports photographers, school specific journalists, etc.), this would be consistent with the general tone going around today.

bluebyyou

July 9th, 2020 at 5:53 AM ^

In those states that are. blowing up with cases right now, i;e., FL. TX. AZ, and several more, hospital beds are at a premium.  Our ability to treat this disease has improved and the cohort that is getting sick has shifted considerably lower in age which is why your mortality rate has gone down, but there is concern that many people who have survived have done so at the cost of long term lung damage.

The logistics of this disease simply do not allow for successful gathering of people at this moment.  I've resigned myself for a while that college sports may not happen in the fall.  With vaccine development moving at a record pace, I believe the spring may provide an opportunity to see football once again, and with people in the stands.  

 

ChasingRabbits

July 9th, 2020 at 8:15 AM ^

this is not true. 

Sunday June 28 285 deaths, 29th 366, 30th 727, 1st 676 

Sunday July 5th 262 deaths, 6th  378, 7th  993, 8th 890

That is a higher weekly pace than last week. and the highest daily numbers in a while.  

Numbers from World o meter  who get them from lots of sources including the CDC and Johns Hopkins. 

BeatIt

July 9th, 2020 at 6:14 AM ^

The mortality rate is the most important number. And its getting close to non-pandemic status.monday it was @ 5.9. When it gets below 5%(includes all URS,pneumonia,flu deaths etc as i understood it)as much testing as we are doing it should be below 5% next week. Will be interesting what that asshole Fauci says,he already started downplaying the CDC's pandemic  threshold tuesday night when this came up. 

For one, I think this virus has been active in the U.S. as early as november 2019. From march till june,it spread to every county in florida,lol. No way that happens that fast, especially once the shut down started.In fort  lauderdale and miami was a ghost town the first 2 weeks of "flatten the curve" remember that, we need 2 more weeks.that was 3 1/2 months ago. None of the hospitals were close to capacity,60% tops. Orlando area, had 2 hospitalizations by the beginning of may. 

So what triggered a major surge in cases in the age group if 18-34 yo's? Maybe it was the protests and riots? I mean what else could it have been? Trump didn't do any rallies in miami. And we've been locked down for months. If not from the protests and the violent looting what caused this spike then? We've been locked down or are they double counting? 

Id really like to hear what others think caused this spike, or is it just the sheer volumne of testing currently?

The Mad Hatter

July 9th, 2020 at 6:59 AM ^

Opening bars and restaurants caused most of the spike. There were huge protests in several states that didn't see a corresponding increase in cases.

That bar in Lansing is responsible for over 150 total cases and it was only open for like a week.

Also, death rates aren't the only concern. This virus is causing all sorts of lung and other organ damage, even in people with mild symptoms. It gave my little cousin a stroke.

WGoNerd

July 9th, 2020 at 8:10 AM ^

All this. 

in general we’re learning that outdoor gatherings, as long as reasonable precautions are taken are not leading to surges in cases. It’s people cramming into bars and restaurants that’s making cases explode. Most people participating in the protests wear masks (not going to say all). Even photos of semi-crowded beaches aren’t as bad as packed bars and night clubs. That’s one of the reasons that ages are skewing younger.

If people would just wear a stinking mask...

 

bluebyyou

July 9th, 2020 at 9:01 AM ^

Google or other search engines are your friend.

There are several reports that show no increase in most places due to the protests due to the fact that they took place outdoors, many wore masks and that a significant number of people stayed in their homes to avoid what was happening in the streets.

 

Harlans Haze

July 9th, 2020 at 10:00 AM ^

Even if the mortality rate is the most important thing (and I don't concede that point), the US is by far the worst in that respect. The numbers say the US accounts for 24% of deaths, while making up 4% of the world's population. Even "overly generous" COVID-19 cause of death reporting numbers can't make up for a death rate that is 6 times what it should be Plus, the US has inherent community advantages that should make us more resistant to pandemics: broad geography, a large (if not the most efficient) health care system, a reliance on private transportation, a greater ability for it's population to telework). Our country is probably more custom-ready to social distance than any other country in the world. There can be a debate about what the US is doing wrong or right, but the numbers suggest that there is no debate that the US is doing SOMETHING wrong.