The Commercial Appeal

Memphis offers time tables for resuming athletics

Veatch says 6-7 weeks ‘optimal’ for football

- Jason Munz Memphis Commercial Appeal USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE

Laird Veatch, Memphis’ first-year athletic director, is keeping his cards as close to the vest as possible.

Recently, he acknowledg­ed his department has internally hammered out a series of dates it is targeting in its efforts to resume athletic activities. But Veatch declined to provide specifics.

“We’re not at a point at this time to really announce those publicly, just because we don’t want to push out anything that might not be possible depending on how the circumstan­ces play out,” he said. “(But) we’re pushing and getting ready.”

When the Memphis football team — and the rest of the university’s athletic programs — is allowed to gather together in preparatio­n for the upcoming season (assuming government and health officials deem it safe to do so) remains in limbo. But Veatch did shed light on a couple of time tables Memphis football has in place if or when it is given the green light.

“Of course, all our student-athletes in all our sports will need to have a plan,” he said. “But, yeah, we’ve looked at everything from sort of a minimum of four weeks up to 6-7 weeks, (which) is more optimal. The key here, once again, is to remain flexible.

“Once we determine what the start of the season actually does look like and how that’s going to play out, then we’ll of course back up from there and provide as much time as we possibly can to get student-athletes here, get them acclimated.”

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercial­appeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

 ?? BRAD VEST/MEMPHIS COMMERCIAL APPEAL ?? First-year Memphis Athletic Director Laird Veatch, left, says there are time tables for the football team to gather that include “a minimum of four weeks up to 6-7 weeks, (which) is more optimal.”
BRAD VEST/MEMPHIS COMMERCIAL APPEAL First-year Memphis Athletic Director Laird Veatch, left, says there are time tables for the football team to gather that include “a minimum of four weeks up to 6-7 weeks, (which) is more optimal.”

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