Reality check: how will the cfp adapt to a covid issue
Not trying to be a wet blanket here, but we are still seeing college teams (not just football) having games canceled/postponed/forfeited despite being ~2 years into this global pandemic. Between the fall/winter rise in covid cases, the potential new variant threat, and a stronger flu season than normal (not to mention that the state of Michigan seems to be a hot zone for both just now), it is not far fetched that our bowl game could be affected (not to mention other bowls).
I'm sure the team is doing what they can to minimize risk (although... tightly packed throngs of jubilant fans & students mingling with the players isn't exactly ideal). My question is simple: has anyone in charge (cfp, bowl orgs, etc.) actually put out a policy for responding to a major team outbreak? Would they be willing to wait a full 10 days (or whatever it is now) for quarantine or would it be a forfeit? What about local ordinances? Cal had to postpone their games due to the city of Berkeley, not the ncaa.
Hoping for these best, but still good to know what will happen just in case.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:13 PM ^
Didn't someone have to forfeit in the Big Dance? I assume a similar thing would happen. Won't lie, I had concerns about spending a week in Miami before a huge game, but I wasn't thinking about COVID impacts.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:17 PM ^
Why would you worry about Miami?? It's the North's season for Covid currently. We had our last big surge at the end of summer down here.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:32 PM ^
I think Lil Penny was making a reference to 18-24 year old men spending a week in Miami. Women, clubs, beaches…
Distractions being the issue- not covid.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:17 PM ^
Can we talk about this later, right now I'm just trying to focus on happy thoughts. You bring up very valid points, but sports are a break from reality and I just don't feel like discussing it.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:49 PM ^
People who are planning to go might like to know this in advance.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:23 PM ^
Huh? Your OP was entirely pointed towards the teams themselves and how the NCAA is handling them. What does this have to do with fans who are going? I'm sure the stadiums' COVID policies will be and probably already are very easy to find.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:41 PM ^
Yes, my question was about how the organizations will respond.
I think that people (fans & others) going to the game may want to know these details for the sake of travel plans, scheduling, etc. (e.g. should they wait around a few days down there or is a rescheduled game unlikely).
This isn't exactly a hot take - just a line of rational questioning.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:21 PM ^
They have their "Free State of Florida" schtick/stage presentation from their Governor who is making moves foremost based on higher office aspirations. He actively attacks any and all local safety measures to limit spread. Be it businesses, schools.
Bad guy regardless of the little R or D or whatever next to his name on the evening news.
Hope it all ends safely for the team and everyone involved.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:29 PM ^
Deleted. Can’t believe I got suckered into replying to your comment when I should just be enjoying the aftermath of last night’s great win. Go blue
December 5th, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
No one is interested in your opinion of Ron DeSantis. No one.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:23 PM ^
After we win the big 10 Crown this is the topic that's burning in your mind???
WTF!!!
December 5th, 2021 at 2:29 PM ^
I mean, it would be silly to not worry about it a bit.
The season has been very fortunate to not have any outbreak issues. But it would really suck to have a team significantly impacted by an outbreak right before the playoff games.
I suspect if it happens, nothing will be done and you just have to play with whoever is available.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:52 PM ^
Did I imply at all that this was a major issue? This is more about being prepared.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:58 PM ^
I get your point, and if I was going down I'd be having the exact same thoughts and thinking the same things and doing my own research.
But the day after we win a major championship something we haven't done since 2004, and we're in the CFP, I would think post would be talking about those type of topics.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:44 PM ^
There is nothing wrong with knowing early - better than asking a few days before the game *if* something does develop.
Besides - my point is that *this should already be established somewhere by an authority* - the bowl organizers have known for 1+ year that this can happen and should already have a plan in place (especially considering how much money is involved). I'm just asking what those plans are.
December 5th, 2021 at 2:39 PM ^
They will ignore it and pretend it's not happening, just like most of the country has for months now.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:03 PM ^
Did a single team miss a game due to covid this year?
I think the rules changed once vaccinations were available and teams don't have to report/mass test anymore.
Only impact it could have is on the field with sick players, which I'm sure was the case with many "flu" outbreaks we've heard about this year
December 5th, 2021 at 3:26 PM ^
I believe the USC-Cal sicko game from yesterday was the only P5 game that had to get moved.
December 5th, 2021 at 5:28 PM ^
The only reason that game got postponed was because the city of Berkeley's health department mandated the entire Cal team get tested after a couple players developed symptoms. Those tests revealed dozens of asymptomatic cases, and Cal didn't enough have enough players to play.
Basically, Berkeley went looking for Covid and found it. Now I'm not taking a position on the merits of that approach, but I will confidently predict that neither the schools nor the public health authorities in Georgia/Texas will not be looking for Covid in the playoff teams
December 5th, 2021 at 3:46 PM ^
Washington just had to forfeit a bball game to ucla.
This isn't an impossible scenario, even for football.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:31 PM ^
This is a very bad post.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:47 PM ^
Please elaborate.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:39 PM ^
We have two antibody treatments that cure covid within a few days. Sometime this month the two oral treatments (ten pills taken over a few days) developed by Pfizer and Moderna will be approved by the FDA. Each company has 20 million doses (enough to treat 4 million cases) that will be available on approval.
18-25 year olds who are in excellent condition are not at serious risk from covid.
We don't cancel games because players get the flu, at this point covid is no different.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:48 PM ^
And those treatments are both readily available in both Florida and Texas.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:50 PM ^
Washington just canceled (forfeited actually) bball against ucla.
Cal had to postpone football against usc and just did the makeup last night.
What happens if, just as an example, an outbreak (large numbers and not just a few) of positive cases happens to our guys a few days before the game? Would they postpone?
Why not know the answers now instead of ignoring the possibility (unlikely as it is)?
December 6th, 2021 at 8:56 AM ^
I am 60
a bit overweight, was vaccinated, got CV19 from a VACCINATED co-worker
was out 2 weeks, could have come back in 7 days (was tired mainly) stuffy nose
it wasn't much of a sickness really but I don't have underlying conditions other than being overweight.
we have had worse things hit the population of the US and there ARE valid treatments out there to lessen the effects and get people well quickly, it just depends on what the GOVT. is allowing to be used. In Michigan where I live the only treatment offered was Monoclonal antibodies
I have heard it depends which hospital system you are attached to that determines what treatment you get because they have an agenda they are following.
CV19 and it's variants are NOT going away just like the Flu isn't going away, Cancer isn't going away, heart disease isn't going away and we all know corrupt politicians aren't going away.
Does anyone really believe our government is pushing this so hard because they care so much about we the people??
or could it be the more shots given the more money in their pocket from big pharma?
Does big pharma make more money on developing and approving Therapeutics for the small % of people getting CV19 or 300 million forced vaccinations ?
if they REALLY cared they would have closed the borders and not allowed anyone in or out.
do the math, follow the money
this is a way for those in power to make more money and stay in control of our lives.
December 5th, 2021 at 3:47 PM ^
Have the teams immediately move to their respective sites in Texas and Florida, two states that are experiencing quite low levels of covid related illness.
December 5th, 2021 at 5:01 PM ^
I'm over Covid. Learn to live with it. It's not going away.
December 6th, 2021 at 8:41 AM ^
stop with the hysteria please.
just stop
December 6th, 2021 at 5:41 PM ^
This isn't hysteria or some doomsday scenario. This is just recognizing that there is a small, but very real chance that covid cases could cause a problem somewhere (wrt our bowl game) later this month.
There is nothing wrong with calm, rational discussion about potential problems.