UW players ecstatic to compete in fall
MADISON – Jack Coan didn't sugarcoat his answer.
When the Big Ten announced on Aug. 11 it was shutting down football and all other fall sports because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wisconsin's No 1 quarterback was peeved.
“At first, once the season was canceled, I didn't really have any hope for it coming back this fall,” Coan said Friday during a Zoom call with reporters. “If anything, I thought it might be in the winter or spring.”
Coan's mood changed Wednesday when the Big Ten announced it was moving forward with an eight-game regular season, set to start the weekend of Oct. 23-24.
“When we got the official word,” Coan said, “it was right after a workout. A lot of the team was together so it was really cool to see everybody fired up.”
Coan, safety Eric Burrell and defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk participated in the Zoom call Friday. All three players were in agreement on three critical points:
First, they want to play.
“We were just as happy as can be to have this opportunity again once it was taken away,” Loudermilk said.
Second, they understand the responsibility is on the players to avoid risky situations that can lead to infections, which could result in missed practice or games.
“We've got to create our own bubble,” Loudermilk said, “kind of isolate ourselves from the outside world if we're planning on being safe and being able to make it the whole season.”
Third, they are confident that the daily testing, set to begin no later than Sept. 30, coupled with the plan put in place by the UW staff will be effective.
“I do feel 100% confident,” Burrell said. “I think they have a safe and good protocol that I think we can abide by. I'm excited for that.”
The need to make wise choices and follow the staff 's advice is critical.
Public Health Madison & Dane County reported this week a total of 42 UW football players and staff members have tested positive since June 10. A whopping 69% of those positive cases (29 of 42) occurred between Sept. 1 and Tuesday.
“We've all got to hold each other accountable,” Coan said. “We've all got to be smart. We've got to take care of each other and the coaches have done a great job on hitting on it.
“We can't be putting ourselves at risk. We can't take any risks with this because we can't be losing time or possibly postponing games.
“We've all got to be smart and safe.” Big Ten protocols call for a player who tests positive sitting out 21 days. With the league schedule calling for eight regular-season games and one postseason game in nine weeks, teams have no wiggle room.
“I think it is huge,” Loudermilk said. “You get it and you're out 21 days. You'd miss three games and it's not a very long season. It's a huge incentive for us to stay as safe as possible.”
Burrell noted players' awareness can't wane away from the football facilities.
“You can go to the grocery store and get it,” he said. “Obviously, you have more contact playing football. But anywhere you go, you don't know where you can get it …
“This (virus), it's not just going to be in stadiums. It's literally everywhere. You don't know where you're going to get it.
“I don't think it is leaving anytime soon. You've just got to be safe about it.”
The UW players acknowledged that, although they are excited to have the opportunity to play this fall, watching other teams play hasn't been easy to digest.
“I haven't watched any (games),” Loudermilk said. “I flipped it on one time a little bit. Not playing was kind of tough.”
Burrell watched several games involving players he knows from his high school days.
“It's very frustrating, especially when you see a decent amount of fans in the stadium,” he said. “Oh, man.”
Burrell has texted several of his friends and asked one question: “What protocol y'all doing?”
UW is expected to begin a modified preseason camp later this month, perhaps Sept. 30. The Big Ten protocols arguably are more strict than any other league attempting to play this fall. Loudermilk reiterated that if the UW staff tells him to jump, he'll ask: "How high?"
“They've been doing a lot to keep us safe and keep everyone around us safe so I trust everything they have us doing,” he said. “Not one bit of me is questioning anything anyone is telling me to do.
“We want to play, so we'll do anything.”