Pause ’n’ effect
Knights delay start of fall camp after players reportedly voice COVID-19 safety concerns
UCF paused the start of its fall football camp after players voiced concerns over the ability to play college football safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
The move was first reported by Sports Illustrated. SI stated players’ demands were outlined in a document titled a Proposal for Change and were shared with at least four other schools in the American Athletic Conference.
UCF athletics director Danny White released a statement addressing the issue Saturday afternoon.
“I’m confident our players are comfortable with what UCF is doing relative to their health and safety,” White’s statement read. “Some of their concerns, for example, revolve around what happens when they go outside their ‘bubble’ on a road trip, All these questions have given us opportunities for our players to hear more details from our medical experts, coaches, and staff as we navigate this unprecedented set of circumstances.
“[UCF coach] Josh Heupel and his staff, as well as our administration, are very supportive of the concerns of our studentathletes. I feel very good about our health and safety protocols.”
The Knights were considering kicking off camp Thursday, but those plans were put on hold.
A source told the Sentinel the coaching staff was figuring out how to best use limited practice hours with UCF’s season opener against North Carolina canceled and no replacement opponent finalized. The team is expected to resume football team meetings Monday, but there is no timeline set for the start of practice.
Sports Illustrated reported it was told at least one of the missed workouts was unrelated to player unrest.
The document linked to UCF players is the latest in a growing movement among athletes, who are banding together to voice their concerns about safety as college leaders set coronavirus protocols and make plans to play college football outside of a bubble format. Players from the Pac-12, Big Ten and Mountain West have suggested college football officials are prioritizing financial concerns over player safety.
UCF players’ primary questions centered on how players will be kept safe when they leave campus to travel for road games,
a source told the Sentinel.
The players feel comfortable with the protocols they’ve been following since June 1, but some are worried about how safety can be maintained when they get on planes or buses and when they have to stay overnight at a hotel.
The document obtained by SI consists of the following 10 concerns it reported some AAC athletes want addressed:
1. Terminate preexisting documents that serve as COVID liability forms and waivers.
2. Guaranteed scholarship renewal, eligibility and a spot on the team for opting out of the season in protest of current conditions (walk-ons included).
3. Guaranteed medical redshirt if a player contracts COVID during the season and misses 50% of competition scheduled.
4. Guaranteed medical insurance and health coverage for injuries and COVID-related health issues occurring while participating in sporting activities for at least five years after your last season.
5. Mandatory week testing for all athletes on campus year-round. Testing twice a week minimum for all in-season athletes with one of the tests being the day after competition and a second test 24-48 hours before competition. (All players, staff, personnel related to the football program.)
6. Transparency about the number of cases presently on the team at a time and between the teams before competition. This allows for athletes to know the risk heading into the game and the ability to refuse to play for individual games.
7. AAC makes it a standard to ensure all studentathletes have up-to-date information about the new risks that COVID-19 may pose to their personal health, the health of their families, and the health of their communities.
8. AAC makes it a standard that there are safe-return-to-play protocols in place for student athletes who previously tested positive.
9. Hazard pay this season for all athletes. Split percentage of revenue to student athletes (doubling fo stipends).
10. Regulations to all workers and volunteers who will be surrounding players, i.e., flight attendants, pilots, hotel managers and workers.
Conference officials haven’t been sent the proposal by any players, another source told the Sentinel.
The AAC announced earlier this week it will play a 12-game football schedule, with schools playing eight conference games and as many as four nonconference games. Officials said the season would start with Week 0 games on Aug. 29.
White spoke earlier this week about the challenges of preparing for the football season as Florida deals with a relatively high number of COVID-19 cases.
“Obviously, the community spread that we’re seeing in Central Florida has been concerning,” White said during a videoconference with reporters. “We have scientists at UCF that have been projecting that we can be at a better place by the end of August. I hope that’s the case.
“We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure it’s safe and healthy to be able to compete this fall.”
White commended UCF football players, who were the first to arrive back on campus, and the work they have done to maintain a safe environment.
“Our football team has been unbelievable in how they’ve handled the responsibility to each other and how they’ve really been disciplined in following all the guidelines,” he said. “We have a very successful bubble here at UCF.”
AAC commissioner Mike Aresco told the Orlando Sentinel Wednesday he’s discussed the player movements at the Pac-12 and Big Ten with league officials.
“We’ve talked with the ADs about it as a group and individually and they are talking to their players,” Aresco said. “And there are concerns, no question. We haven’t had any opt-outs yet. I’m sure there are concerns. There always are but, knock on wood, we haven’t had a situation like the Pac-12 or Big Ten but that doesn’t mean we couldn’t have student-athletes petition for various things or cite things they would like to see done better.”
Aresco said the conference has stressed communication between campus leaders and athletes and pointed out that members of the Student-Athlete Council have been involved in discussions about the league’s medical protocols.
“Some of our Olympic sports testing protocols will be stricter than the [Power 5 conferences],” he added.
When reached by Sentinel Saturday, Aresco said he preferred not to comment on the issues at this time.
SI reported a source said SMU officials met with their athletes Thursday night to address some of their safety concerns.