Back on March 10, the Ivy League presidents decided to cancel their mens and ladiess basketball competitions due to the fact that of the coronavirus pandemic. It was dismissed by many– consisting of some of the leagues players and coaches– as an overreaction, made by a league with a different set of top priorities.” If it costs too much to preserve a healthy environment at our institutions and our neighborhoods, then we dont play sports or we do not return students to campus,” Patriot League commissioner Jennifer Heppel stated.” Youll pay attention to it, however the Ivy League is various,” Aresco stated. The Ivy League choice will resonate to some extent, but I believe we have to rationally look at our circumstance and state, Look, can we do this securely?”.
At least in the short-term, however, its possible the Ivy Leagues decision resonates more with its peers than the FBS conferences. The concern is whether several decisions to delay or cancel fall sports– even at the most affordable level– snowball into more.
” Youll take notice of it, but the Ivy League is different,” Aresco said. “At this point, I believe the FBS needs to make its own computation and choice. The Ivy League choice will resonate to some degree, however I believe we have to logically look at our situation and state, Look, can we do this securely?”.
Its a response the FBS schools appear to prefer to get to by themselves.
The first impactful decision relating to college sports return to play this fall is nearly upon us.
The Ivy League will reveal its intend on Wednesday for fall sports, which might include a reduced schedule or holding off the season until the spring.
Back on March 10, the Ivy League presidents chose to cancel their guyss and femaless basketball competitions because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was dismissed by many– consisting of some of the leagues coaches and players– as an overreaction, made by a league with a different set of top priorities. Within 48 hours, Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, the NBA suspended its season and all NCAA sports were canceled.
Regardless of what the Ivies choose, the primary concern is this: Will their decision as soon as again end up being a trend at the FBS level or will it be an outlier made by a league without the same structures and rewards as big-time college football?
College footballs power brokers insist its the latter … in the meantime.
” We all pay attention to it, simply to see whats out there, however I think their model is a bit various than our model when it comes to football,” stated West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, who also is the chair of the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee. We have to look at what were doing with screening and procedures and the security and wellness of our student-athletes, making sure were doing the right thing from that aspect of it, to see if we can fill any type of season.”
2 RelatedLyons statement reflects the basic sentiment of athletic directors and conference commissioners interviewed by ESPN about the prospective trickle-up result, need to the Ivy League decide to cancel fall sports totally or delay them in favor of a spring season.
Last week, TMG Sports reported the Ivy League is considering 2 possibilities for a transformed football season, consisting of passing up the complete fall slate in favor of a seven-game, conference-only spring season that would begin in April and conclude in mid-May. According to the report, the conference also has been thinking about opening the 2020 season in late September with a seven-game schedule against only conference challengers.
Last Wednesday, the Ivy League revealed it would make “a decision concerning the status” of fall sports on July 8.
” I do not believe its going to have much bearing on what we do,” said Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott. “Different part of the nation, various technique to college sports and college football. Everybody is looking around the nation and taking an interest in what they do, but I do not believe its going to have any bearing on what we do.”
Theres no question the Ivy League might– and probably will– affect other FCS leagues as they grapple with the expenses of repeatedly checking student-athletes for the coronavirus. Its probably an easier decision to make at that level because the FCS sports receive institutional financing and support, so while an athletic department might feel the economic crunch the university is experiencing, it isnt dependent upon college football or an accompanying television contract to support its other sports.
” If it costs too much to keep a healthy environment at our organizations and our communities, then we dont play sports or we dont return trainees to school,” Patriot League commissioner Jennifer Heppel said. “Were not going to compromise health and wellness due to a football warranty. Thats crazy. If we cant do it securely, were not going to do it.”
Its a mantra that has actually been repeated at every level, but while self-confidence has been subsiding with a current surge in cases across the nation, there is also an underlying sense that if FBS-level schools can play, they will.
” We have not been informed by public health authorities or our regional doctors or our clinical experts that we must stop doing what were doing,” said Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby. When were informed, This simply isnt going to work out, undoubtedly no one is going to be withstanding that … however they have not stated that to us yet.”
The Ivy League may be prepping huge modifications to its college football season, however Power 5 athletic directors and ADs arent there yet, with Penn State AD Sandy Barbour calling a spring season a “last resort.” Randy Litzinger/Icon SportswireAnd when it pertains to college football and the College Football Playoff, there are 5 commissioners, plus Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who wield the bulk of the decision-making power: Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren, ACC commissioner John Swofford, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, Scott and Bowlsby.
They have been collaborating more than ever, and each conference has been dealing with numerous contingency models given that the spring, consisting of a conference-only season, a delayed start to the season, a spring season and even the worst-case circumstance– no season at all. Many commissioners and athletic directors have actually informed ESPN that while a spring season is possible, its the least popular alternative today. They mention the unknowns relating to the virus and vaccine in January, issues with the NFL draft and the risks of having gamers take part in two seasons in one fiscal year as barriers.
There will not be any choices to make, though, if schools arent open this fall.
” Its extremely unlikely that we would play fall sports– extremely not likely we would play fall sports– if we didnt have our trainees back on school,” said American Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco. “If our chancellors and presidents didnt feel it was safe to have our trainees on campus, its extremely hard to see college sports occurring in the fall.”
As effective as the Power 5 commissioners are, university presidents have been pressed to the leading edge of the decision-making processes. Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk told ESPN recently that the Patriot League presidents “pay a terrible great deal of attention to decisions that are made within the Ivy League.”
” Whatever the Ivy League does, I would not be amazed if the Patriot League offers it extremely major consideration,” stated Gladchuk, whose school remains in the Patriot League for all sports except football. “It d be typical of the way weve operated in the past.”
Heppel stated the presidents reaction to the Ivy League statement will carry considerable weight not only within her conference however across the nation.
” Yes, our presidents see,” she said of the Patriot League, “however I would also argue that nationally presidents watch the Ivy League. Sports directors and commissioners may not, however presidents are definitely looking at what the president at Harvard is doing.”
