OPEN MINDED
Big 12 schools intend to open in fall, giving football hope
All 10 schools in the Big 12 Conference expect their campuses to be open in the fall, a key step toward launching fall sports.
The corona virus pandemic has shuttered sports at all levels, and conference comm issi one rs have stressed to Vice President Mike Pen ce college a th letics cannot resume until campuses reopen. The Big 12's schools have all announced their intentions in recent weeks to have students on campus this fall.
If they follow through, the possibility exists that football can start as originally scheduled. The season is slated to begin Aug. 29, though Big 12 schools don't begin play until the following week.
Dr. Brian Hainline, the NCAA's chief medical officer, has said widespread testing will be crucial to having football in the fall. He has expressed cautious optimism that college sports could be played during the fall semester.
TC U coach Gary Patterson, president of t he American Football Coaches Association, said his level of optimism is “very high” that there will be a season.
“I think the closer we get to probably June 1 a lot of people are starting to open things up a little bit more herein May I think we're going to be able to make a lot better decisions on what all that looks like,” he said.
Oklahoma plans to return to in-person education operations in the fall. Athletic director Joe Castiglione said last month several plans for starting football up are under consideration. Among them are starting the season on time, delaying it a few weeks, shortening the season or moving some of games or all of them to next spring.
“The good news is, I don't think individual universities are going to be making that decision,” Castiglione said. “Whatever we decide will be done collectively though our conferences working together.”
While Big 12 schools might agree on their hopes of opening on time, playing non-conference opponents brings extra challenges. TCU is set to open its season Sept. 5 at California.
Oklahoma State plans to have students on campus in the fall, and that can't happen soon enough for coach Mike Gundy. He been the most outspoken Big 12 coach, saying last month he had hoped for the football program to return to its facilities on May 1. The school is moving carefully.
“As for a return to football, we will be ready to go when given clearance, but ultimately, those decisions are made above the athletic department level,” Oklahoma State spokesman Gavin Lang said. “We need a lot more information before making any commitments to a timetable for football.”
Texas said its goal is to re-open in the fall, likely with a mix of in-person and online courses. Outgoing school President Greg Fenves has said the school will offer a more definitive plan for re- opening by the end of June.
Kansas athletic director Jeff Long said he is preparing for football season to start on time, but emphasized everything is fluid. The school plans to have on-campus classes in the fall but is also working on contingency plans.
Kansas State recently furloughed 350 employees, but plans to bring them back for start of inperson classes in the fall. Second-year coach Chris Klieman says his program would need two months of workouts and practices to be ready.
Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen said the school is “planning on a full, normal operation for our universities for the fall 2020 semester,” but an athletic department spokesman offered no details when asked how that would connect with football.
TC U Chancellor Victor B os chi ni Jr. has announced that the university intends for students to return to campus for the fall semester, with a planned start date of Aug .24. West Virginia President Gordon Gee expects students in the fall and he hopes football can be played.
Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec last week said there would be a phased reopening for the fall semester and he told the Texas Tribune the plan is to resume sports. Baylor has also announced plans to have students on campus this fall.
Report: Big 12 cancels football media days
Big 12 football media days will go virtual this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report from the Dallas Morning News. The event, which brings together players and coaches with hundreds of credentialed media, was scheduled for July 20-21 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“Given the uncertainty around the current environment and how much longer it's going to last and with attendees having to make travel plans, it didn' t seem prudent for a traditional media day with a mass person gathering,” Big 12 spokesman Bob Burda told the Morning News.