Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Can’t go to the game? Here’s some ways to plan your day
The crowd will not stand as one. They’ll stand as none for at least two regular-season games.
The new normal isn’t everything. It’s the only thing right now.
“Lambeau Field will not be the same without our fans’ energetic support in the stands,” said Green Bay Packers President / CEO Mark Murphy. “Given the extraordinary circumstances this year and the additional protocols in place, though, we determined it was best to take incremental steps to start the regular season. These two games will allow us to focus our attention on safely conducting games inside the stadium with all necessary participants.
“We are hopeful that we will be able to host fans for games later in the season, should conditions allow.”
Thus the Frozen Tundra will be an empty bowl when the Packers play the Detroit Lions on Sept. 20 and the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 5.
OK, who really wants to see the Lions anyway?
Packers linebacker Preston Smith said he’s used to playing without fans.
“My first four years in the league, there weren’t that many fans in the stadium anyway,” he said. “So it might be kind of normal now again.”
By the way, he played for that team in Washington.
Coach Matt LaFleur has his thinking cap on trying to find ways to get his charges ready for silence.
“It’s something that none of us have really experienced at this level,” LaFleur said. “Guys are going to have to really dig deep and find that energy because a lot of players feed off of fans. I know there’s certain stadiums that you walk into in this league and there definitely is a home-field advantage. We’ll see, we’ll make the adjustments.”
Everyone will have to make the adjustments. Even the fans.
With that in mind, here’s the way your game day will shape up now. And please don’t bob for apples for at least an hour after digesting this information.
6:30 a.m. – Wake up and watch “Mass For Shut-Ins.” This may give you some brownie points if you starting using rough language after a wide-open Marquez Valdes-Scantling drops a pass.
7:30 a.m. – Make yourself some green and gold eggs with ham. Don’t turn up your nose at this. You will like them you will see. You could eat them in a boat. And you could eat them with a goat.
8:30 a.m. – Put on your John Hadl Packers jersey. You know, the one you traded away half your family to get. Now is not the time to be embarrassed by it since no one will see you wearing it.
9 a.m. – Drive to Lambeau Field. It will be the first time you’ve done this exercise on a game day without getting stuck in traffic.
11 a.m. – Put your grill on your driveway and cook some brats. Remember, they can’t start a game without showing brat smoke on TV. And if you’re lucky, Tony Siragusa will show up and munch a half dozen of them down.
11:45 a.m. – Turn on your set in time to catch Terry Bradshaw yukking it up. You can also practice throwing stuff at the TV at this point.
11:59 a.m. – Turn on Wayne Larrivee. This is in your best interests since you would like Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to socially distance themselves from microphones.
Vinelines
Greg Cote of the Miami Herald: “Green Bay Packers announce no fans for at least first two home games. Lamboh-no Field.”...
Keith Olbermann on the Power 5 conferences strongly considering not playing college football until spring:
“The only shock here is that wisdom has prevailed. So the NFL alone will drive toward the cliff of 250-300 positives a week.”...
Jack Finarelli of SportsCurmudgeon.com, on 31 of the 66 NFL players who opted out of the 2020 season being offensive or defensive linemen: “Keith Jackson used to refer to those units as the ‘Big Uglies’; however, don’t call them the ‘Big Dummies.’ Those are players who are going to be violating social-distancing guidelines on every snap of the ball.”...
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “Social distancing and face coverings will be in effect for all fans at Steelers home games this season. Not to mention automatic ejections for fighting and grabbing the face mask.”
From Packer Plus wires and other news sources. Send emails to mhart@journalsentinel.com.