August 5, 2020 Issue, Page 8 of 9

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Page 8 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Wednesday, August 5, 2020 Will college football happen this fall? Cross your fingers, but don’t hold your breath By Jenni Carlson, The leadership and medical ad- to Campus Comer the night Paradise erodes when The Big Ten has yet to an- differently? How much more Oklahoman visory board are absolutely before. Perhaps they spent a classes resume. nounce its start date, and the might they need to test? College football is doing worried about it. An audio few hours on The Strip over Frankly, I suspect that’s Big 12 will meet Monday to No one knows. its darnedest to have a sea- recording of the private the weekend. part of the reason why we're determine its plan moving All the planning to this son. meeting was obtained by Even players who have seeing some Power 5 con- forward. Some folks think such a The Washington Post, and bought into doing the right ferences delaying the start Delaying the start of the point has been admirable, thing would be foolish or in it, players voiced particu- things not only for them- of the season. Even as four season is a risk because it all the attention to detail, all dangerous or both, playing a lar concern about what hap- selves but also for their team of the five conferences have reduces the runway schools the hours of work. But even collision sport during a pan- pens when their universities may end up sitting next opted to eliminate noncon- have to get in games, but the with that, the reopening of demic. Others think a bit of reopen. to COVID Cindy or Virus ference games, three have plus side is, it gives the foot- campuses may scuttle every- normalcy would be grand. Texas A&M linebacker Vince. pushed back season open- ball programs the better part Still others land somewhere Keeath Magee II cut to the I know colleges and uni- ers. The ACC’s first games of a month to see how hav- thing. It might prevent col- in the middle, wanting heart of the issue at one versities that have decided will be the week of Sept. 12 ing students on campus and lege football from planning games and safety in equal point during the call. to have in-person classes while the Pac-12 and SEC players going to class affects its way through a pandemic. measure. “T feel like the college are going to do everything won't play before the week their coronavirus numbers. Cross your fingers, but But regardless of what you campus is the one thing that possible to limit the spread of Sept. 26. What will they need to do don’t hold your breath. think about the possibility of you can’t control,” he said. of the coronavirus. Smaller college football, you have to wonder if it will all be He’s absolutely right. College football programs, NFL having a complete season classes in larger spaces. Less contact. More sanitizing. for naught anyway, if all the by and large, have been do- seems like a pipe dream Better ventilation. making of plans and devis- ing a good job of keeping But the start of classes will ing of protocols will fall by the coronavirus at bay dur- mean an increased chance the wayside because of one ing summer workouts. This college football players will By Nick Canepa, The San player(s)/idiot(s) went out ning percentages. significant but uncontrol- past week, for example, OU, be infected. Diego Union-Tribune breaking protocol in Atlanta. Meanwhile, NFL players lable variable. Texas, Baylor and Kansas To this point, they’ve been It’s been 2,000 years since Commissioner Rob Man- are opting out of a maybe The college part of college were among Big 12 schools in something of a bubble. one person calmed the Tem- fred, who apparently had season. Seven of them are football. reporting no new cases. We know, of course, what a pest. no idea what he was dealing Patriots. Two Chiefs starters As the calendar flips to Of the programs that have true bubble looks like. The This time it will take many with, told union chief Tony have done the same. There August, we are reminded seen significant outbreaks, pro soccer leagues in the villages, many men and Clark the season will end if will be more before the students are soon to re- LSU and Rutgers among USS. started using them first, women of a lower author- they can’t get a handle on Wednesday deadline. turn to campuses across the them, many have traced and now, the pro basketball ity, and many brains to over- the virus. Out of control vs. Lions QB Matthew Staf- country. They'll be moving their outbreaks back to play- leagues have followed suit. come those who obviously ford tested positive shortly the out of control. into dorms and apartments. ers going to bars or parties. Teams stay in hotels. No one I have been around pro- after he got out of his car. don’t have any. They'll be going to parties They made poor decisions ventures out. Everyone gets As NFL teams board their fessional athletes for many How the hell do they do and bars. They'll even go to by willingly walking into tested regularly. College ships and head into training low tides, Rob should know this? class eventually. high-risk situations. football doesn’t have any- camps on rough, impossi- many behave like children. “You don’t make the time- And if past situations But college football play- thing as locked down as that. bly predictable seas, there is They haven’t a clue. Take line, the virus makes the ers everywhere will soon be like this are any indication, And yet, during these no person, man or woman, the Nuggets’ Michael Por- timeline,” says Dr, Fauci. they'll be spreading the walking into high-risk situa- summer months, teams have around now to quickly flat- ter Jr., who says COVID is The good doctor, the lead- coronavirus. tions: Classrooms. largely had their campuses ten the invisible swell, or er in this era of being pun- “overblown” and being used That likelihood is some- When classes start, the to themselves, A smatter- “for population control.” build a bridge over troubled ished for being intelligent thing college football abso- student side of the student- ing of international students waters. Games are being lost. and rational, nailed it. lutely cannot plan for much athletes will kick in. Players have remained, and a few The NBA has a chance MLB- probably too late - No? You’re dreaming. less prevent -- and that has to will have to go to psychol- other teams have returned, - chance - because of the has ordered teams to travel You're also dreaming if you be a colossal concern. ogy class or biology lab, and but in many instances, with bubble. The NFL and MLB with “compliance officers,” don’t believe more athletes Players from the South- they will be around students no summer school classes couldn’t possibly have bub- a fancy term for babysitters. will break protocol. eastern Conference who met who might not be making under way, football pro- bles. The Marlins have over Good luck. If they manage We're all dreaming of Virtually earlier this week great decisions during the grams have been on a bit of half their roster testing posi- to continue, playoff pairings complete seasons, in any with members of the league’s pandemic. Maybe they went an island. tive for COVID because a will be decided by best win- sport. cellular devices! 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