Players get taste of new norm
Coronavirus testing and quarantine began right away in return to campus
The Penn State football program welcomed 75 players back to campus on Monday as part of a phased return to campus life amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, thanks to sophomore cornerback Keaton Ellis, we have an inside look at what that process has looked like.
Testing began immediately, and then players entered a quarantine period that lasts until next Monday.
Those who tested negative and are otherwise deemed healthy will then begin something of a normal summer workout routine then; weeks will feature a few days focused on lifting and a couple spent on running and other conditioning to prepare for the 2020 season.
Ellis said he’s unsure how often players will be tested, a process he called unique and that lasted about 15 seconds, but noted that meetings are still taking place virtually on Zoom as opposed to inside of rooms that are usually designated for certain positions, units, or the entire team.
Further, it sounds as if the program will use the spacious Holuba Hall setting to place equipment in ways that follow social distancing guidelines, and things like wearing facemasks and picking up nutritious meals and supplements following workouts to be consumed elsewhere will be the norm for now. Previously, players could hit up the weight room nutrition bar area, congregate for a meal at a dining area called “The Training Table,” and play pool, video games, and watch TV in the Lasch Building players lounge, but those are currently off-limits.
Penn State has not yet said if any of the 75 players tested positive for COVID-19, the virus that causes the coronavirus, and also hasn’t released the entire roster of returnees. That said, the excitement to be back, even under different circumstances, came through in Ellis’ voice as he talked about life in the “new normal” as plans continue to be made in State College and other parts of the country for an on-time start to the regular season this fall.
“When I first heard the news about returning. I was really excited, and obviously this is the first step in trying to get back to normal and getting everybody together, start practicing, and that kind of stuff,” Ellis said. “This first phase, I got tested the other day, and so went through all that, we did physical stuff; that’s what this week’s been really is, you know, making sure everybody’s healthy and getting everybody’s return physical stuff. I’m excited to be back and moving forward.”
Fans and media observers have an idea of what workouts used to look like thanks to open winter testing sessions and also Lift for Life in the summer, and undoubtedly, things will be run differently now.
There will no longer be a mass gathering around a squat rack or bench press to encourage a teammate and high fives and chest bumps to celebrate his success will be discouraged, as well. Workout groups won’t consist of the whole team, but maybe just 10 players or less at a time. Symptom checks will be required before activities can begin, too, and players will likely be advised to not interact with anyone but their teammates to try and mitigate the risk of getting sick as best as possible.
It remains unclear when the coaching staff will be back in town.