SEC says athletes can return June 8

Voluntary on-campus workouts open with eye on football starting on time

COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M and the other 13 Southeastern Conference schools can resume “voluntary in-person athletics activities” on June 8, the league announced on Friday. All SEC goings-on previously had been suspended through at least May 31 because of the global pandemic.

“At this time, we are preparing to begin the fall sports season as currently scheduled, and this limited resumption of voluntary athletic activities on June 8 is an important initial step in that process,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said.

Sankey pledged that the league’s athletes will be better cared for on campus than off during the pan

demic.

“Thanks to the blueprint established by our task force and the dedicated efforts of our universities and their athletics programs, we will be able to provide our student-athletes with far better health and wellness education, medical and psychological care and supervision than they would otherwise receive on their own while off campus or training at public facilities as states continue to reopen,” Sankey said.

Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork welcomed the news from the

SEC.

“Texas A&M has constantly gathered input from local health officials, and we have been very busy planning for the return of athletic activity,” Bjork said. “We are ready for this moment, and I want to thank our health and performance working group for putting together a great plan.”

The A&M football team is set to begin camp in early August and is scheduled to host Abilene Christian on Sept. 5 in the season opener.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday he thinks college football will return on schedule with at least some spectators. Abbott has already issued new rules to allow youth sports leagues to resume in June and for some professional leagues to hold events without spectators.

“Once we get to college football season, our goal right now is to have college football season start as planned, with fans in stands,” Abbott said in an interview with Austin television station KXAN. “What we don’t know is what the capacity level would be.”

The Big 12 said football players can return June 15 and other athletes can return July 1 for voluntary conditioning and workouts on campus.