DIFFERENT GAME
Health and safety mean something different this year at OSU's preseason camp
STILLWATER — Malcolm Rodriguez appreciated t he enhanced safety of the new full-length face shield on his football helmet. But as he went through practice on Wednesday, Rodriguez's breath caused the clear shield to fog over.
On the day when Oklahoma State opened preseason football camp, the future of college football in 2020 was just as foggy amid the COVID- 1 9 pandemic.
The Cowboys tried to find some normalcy at the Sherman Smith Training Center on Wednesday as they began a season that has the earmarks of something special — all while the college football world was spinning wildly.
A West Virginia player opted out of the coming season over health concerns. Players of the Big Ten Conference united to issue a list of demands in The Players' Tribune that they feel will better ensure their safety. And UConn canceled its football season all together.
“The medical staff here does a very good job of making sure our procedures are good, every thing' s tight ,” said Rodriguez, who tested positive for COVID-19 in early June and spent two weeks in quarantine. “I feel safe, for sure.”
Oklahoma State, which currently has eight active COVID-19 cases among football players, altered some of its practice routines to keep players socially distanced when possible, and working in smaller groups. Everyone wore protective face shields —clear guards that fast en inside the face mask of the helmet — designed to protect against someone's bodily
fluids transferring to another player's face.
West Virginia safety Kerry Martin Jr., who has sickle cell trait and asthma, announced on Twitter his decision to sit out the season.
“I don't feel that it is safe to play while there's a virus that we have no forms of a cure or know the long term effects of the virus as many athletes are currently having heart and other respiratory problems,” he wrote.
Following the blue print of players from the Pac- 12 Conference on Tuesday, the group of Big Ten players listed several demands to protect themselves and increase the voice of players in the decision-making process as college football tries to go forward with its season.
“Given that the players are the primary stakeholders in the business of college sports, we believe any course of action moving forward needs to include player input,” the group wrote. “We are deeply disappointed with the lack of leadership demonstrated by the NCAA with respect to player safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We believe the NCAA must — on its own and through collaboration with the conference — devise a comprehensive plan to ensure the safety and wellbeing of players leading up to and during the upcoming fall season.”
The list of demands from players of the Big Ten included third-party testing for
COVID-19; medical redshirt availability for players who miss competitions because of a positive test or mandatory quarantine; and the preservation of eligibility, scholarship and roster spot for any player who opts out of the season.
The NCAA issued guidelines that president Mark Emmert says will place the priority on athletes, including scholarship protection for players who opt out of the season, and requirements that colleges work through insurance standards to cover players' out-of-pocket medical expenses related to COVID-19.
In Stillwater on Wednesday, the Cowboys pushed through practice as normal as possible with safety protocols, masked coaches and foggy face shields.
Rodriguez said he had conversations with his family while in quarantine about taking care of himself when he returned, though he gave no indication that he strongly considered skipping the season.
“It's my senior year, and for me, I do it for my team,” Rodriguez said. “I trust the medical staff here.”
Every day is going to be a new day in college football, just like the rest of the pandemic world. Yet the hope of what's ahead will drive Cowboy players for the coming weeks, just like it convinced stars like Chuba Hubbard and Tylan Wallace to turn down NFL opportunities and stay at OSU last winter.
“I feel like we can do special things here at Oklahoma State,” Wallace said. “I came back for areas on, and I' m standing on that reason right now. It's a big thing for us. I feel like we have a lot in store and we can do big things here, so I'm just here for the ride.”