All Things COVID-19 College Football Impact

Donate To GopherHole
GopherGuy8 said:
More of a general question but since you brought up tailgating I replied. If people are allowed in the stadium or not, is it possible that people will tailgate regardless?
Click to expand...
I saw there were a few people tailgating outside Target Field the other night. Doesn't seem like anyone made them leave, but it didn't look like a large #.
 

MplsGopher said:
For whatever it’s worth (nothing), I don’t think that playing college football with no fans in the stands is going to have much effect on the spread of the virus in the big picture.

The thing that will trigger people, rightly, is if players, coaches, and/or staff get infected and cross-team infections occur.

Baseball has shown they will.


If they try to have social distanced tailgating and fans in the stands, then it will contribute to the spread of the disease.
Click to expand...

I don't want to get in an argument, but baseball has not shown that "cross-team infections" will occur. There has been no information, to my knowledge, that suggests any cross-team infections spread during the course of a game or in the stadium/facility. After the Marlins outbreak, there were two Philly staff members that tested positive. I would imagine that staff members are not watched as closely as the players, and that certainly doesn't lend itself to a "cross-team infection". Granted, football is a different game than baseball, and I could see how it would lend itself to cross-team infections due to the nature of the sport.

However, I believe every other positive test has been organic and spread from within the organization. Again, please correct me if I'm wrong.
 

The Marlins outbreak is reportedly being linked to the fact that the players went out to night clubs and other places that they were supposed to stay away from.

And that will be the issue for college football - keeping up to 100 college-age young men out of clubs and away from women and parties.

all it will take is two or three guys who think they can "get away with it" to start an outbreak.

That is the real key to whether there will be a college football season - can teams exercise enough discipline to keep players away from problematic situations? the discipline can't just come from the coaches - it has to come from within the team - peer pressure has to be applied.
 

An investment in rapid testing should eliminate cross team and intrateam infection for all intents and purposes.

What they do after hours is the problem. Young guys sometimes are a bit reckless, particularly if it involves young women, booze, and testosterone. Ask me how I know.

SON’s worry about players sitting out is legitimate but my POV is most of the team will be infected prior to or early in the season anyway. A solid percentage have probably already contracted the virus and were never tested.
 

Even if you had a test system that was 100% accurate and gave you instant results ... there's never going to be a way to completely eliminate the spread unless you're testing every person every hour.

Or whatever the window of time is between becoming infected and becoming contagious.


Say for example a player is tested in the morning, result is (correctly) negative. And then 1min later the virus enters his body and starts replicating. How much time is needed before he can start spreading the virus to new people?

Or you can make a devil's advocate scenario, something like: a player is tested and is (correctly) given a negative, right before he becomes contagious. So the whole time until his next test, he can spread the virus.
 


MplsGopher said:
Even if you had a test system that was 100% accurate and gave you instant results ... there's never going to be a way to completely eliminate the spread unless you're testing every person every hour....

Or whatever the window of time is between becoming infected and becoming contagious.


Say for example a player is tested in the morning, result is (correctly) negative. And then 1min later the virus enters his body and starts replicating. How much time is needed before he can start spreading the virus to new people?

Or you can make a devil's advocate scenario, something like: a player is tested and is (correctly) given a negative, right before he becomes contagious. So the whole time until his next test, he can spread the virus.
Click to expand...

Pretty close.

We can’t, anyway. Accept it and move forward.

Its long enough.

Time enough to play a game or practice. Move most activities outdoors. Let’s think out of the freaking box. Admit most of this is for PR and legal reasons, not scientific reasons or feasibility reasons.
 

Some PAC12 players getting ready to boycott.

www.espn.com

Pac-12 players threaten to opt out, list demands

A group of Pac-12 football players is threatening to opt out of both preseason camps and games until negotiations with the league regarding concerns about racial injustice, their safety during the coronavirus pandemic and other demands are completed.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

I'm going to be quite surprised if this season is played in full, which sucks because we should be very good this year. But I guess that's life as a Gopher fan
 

I guess the potential for boycott is very real. We've experienced that as Gophers fans for something demonstrably less significant than what's in play now...

I'd think this is where what we think is PJ Fleck's connection with his players would prevail in the end. I don't think he'd put any player on the field if he thought the risk(s) were too great.

We have no idea what's being said behind the curtain. This is where I also have confidence in the AD and Prez to make the right call for the University of Minnesota.

I truly hope there is football this season. But will accept the decision however it falls. Don't have a choice otherwise anywho.
 

I have a hunch Bateman is going to sit out the season, if there are games played. Plus he’s been in California training for about a week.

Check out all three photos on this post he screenshot to his Instagram story.

 



He won't sit out unless there are several high profile players in the Big Ten who organize the same way that the PAC players have done.

Source: my wild guess/opinion.
 

MplsGopher said:
He won't sit out unless there are several high profile players in the Big Ten who organize the same way that the PAC players have done.

Source: my wild guess/opinion.
Click to expand...

Yes, my Bateman post is speculation, but I don’t think anyone would be shocked if he never plays another game for the Gophers.
 

Bateman again. Anyone seriously think he’s playing (if they even have games)?

 

Because of tweet??

Yes, he’s playing - if they have games.
 



I'd be surprised if Bateman sat out. Seems like a gamer/got somethin to prove type of kid.
 



MplsGopher said:
What my gut says.
Click to expand...

If he thinks (and is being told) he’s a first round pick, there’s little incentive to play, plus sitting out would mean he wouldn’t have to go to school. He has millions in guaranteed money waiting for him.
 

PitinoFan said:
If he thinks (and is being told) he’s a first round pick, there’s little incentive to play, plus sitting out would mean he wouldn’t have to go to school. He has millions in guaranteed money waiting for him.
Click to expand...
I’ve never heard of a first round pick that voluntarily sat out of their 3rd season.

I would think that’d be reason enough for many NFL teams to shy away.
 

MplsGopher said:
I’ve never heard of a first round pick that voluntarily sat out of their 3rd season.

I would think that’d be reason enough for many NFL teams to shy away.
Click to expand...

We’ve never had a situation like this, have we? The virus is giving them cover.

BTW, this is a projected 1st round pick who is opting out.

 

PitinoFan said:
Bateman again. Anyone seriously think he’s playing (if they even have games)?

(the tweet in text form)
#Oregon star DB Jevon Holland: “We’re not your entertainment, we’re human beings... We don’t know the long term risks. We have no idea how it’s going to affect our body regardless if we show symptoms or not. I refuse to put my health at risk for somebody else’s benefit.”
Click to expand...

A lot of responsibility is put on college football and its players. They are basically funding most of their school's sports. The players aren't "entertainment" but football certainly is. What they do is definitely for the benefit of themselves (scholarship and preparation for NFL) but also for others' benefit (for the other sports at their school and for the fans entertainment) I'm not saying that players should be obliged/required to go back if they don't feel comfortable, but they are putting their health at risk every time they suit up to play football. Personally I would be more worried about long-term health effects from playing football (concussions, joint issues later in life, etc.) than COVID (and I am not someone that takes COVID lightly either).
 

Word said:
A lot of responsibility is put on college football and its players. They are basically funding most of their school's sports. The players aren't "entertainment" but football certainly is. What they do is definitely for the benefit of themselves (scholarship and preparation for NFL) but also for others' benefit (for the other sports at their school and for the fans entertainment) I'm not saying that players should be obliged/required to go back if they don't feel comfortable, but they are putting their health at risk every time they suit up to play football. Personally I would be more worried about long-term health effects from playing football (concussions, joint issues later in life, etc.) than COVID (and I am not someone that takes COVID lightly either).
Click to expand...

I totally agree, but most elite athletes have inflated egos, and all it takes is an influential voice to make a persuasive argument for them to think they’re being screwed. No offense to Bateman, but he has some diva tendencies on social media, as do most elite players at his position. That could be what this is all about. That said, if he decides to sit out to protect his draft status, I’m not going to fault him, as much as I want to see him play another season.
 


BTW...Jevon Holland, the guy Bateman retweeted is a projected 1st or 2nd round pick.
 

Open tryouts? I’d still watch a team of replacements.

At the moment it does feel like there’s a critical mass of (somewhat) irrational fear amplified by social media, frozen school and league administrations, pre-existing player compensation debate and newly mega-amplified social justice concerns. If a season occurs, it’s going to be messy as hell in all sorts of ways with players testing positive, disgruntled players sitting out, fearful players sitting out, and jumbled lineups. Failing upfront leadership on realistic expectations, widespread rollout of rapid and frequent testing it’s not looking rosy as of early August. Ask me again in a few weeks. The kicker is most of the guys will probably contract the virus anyway unless they isolate for the next 8-12 months which I can’t see happening.
 

PitinoFan said:
Bateman again. Anyone seriously think he’s playing (if they even have games)?

Click to expand...
But if covid didn't exist he would happily jump back on the field where CTE will resume building up and there is a risk of getting paralyzed or bones snapping on every play.
 

Word said:
There are a LOT of people here throwing out COVID opinions on Gopherhole lately and I doubt any of them have MD credentials. Lots of wild conjecture on both sides of the issue.
Click to expand...

Actually I live with an MD and I have specialized training my self in the field of integrative nutrition.
 

Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if we never see Bateman or maybe even Morgan don the Maroon and Gold again. If a fall season occurs (doubtful), it's looking like there will be several high projected draft picks sitting out; similar to the bowl game trend. The NFL won't look down on them for avoiding COVID.

If the season gets moved to Spring 2021, they might still sit out as the NFL draft occurs April 29.
 

My understanding of the PAC demands is that they’re more general than covid, and are about overall safety, equity, and fairness.

They all played last year under the same conditions that have existed, but are getting better slowly.

They’ve made the demands, they’ve put the agenda forward, they’re fighting the good fight. You keep fighting that fight. But you also recognize that 180 change of a massive oil tanker can’t happen instantly. Physics don’t allow it. So you keep working to turn the ship, but you don’t sink it just because it can’t turn on a dime.


I’m going with that, for our guys, until proven otherwise.
 

I think Bateman is using his platform to bring more awareness to the Pac-12 Players and their demands by showing his support, but that doesn't mean he's considering doing the same. I could be wrong, but I think Bateman plays if there are games to play.
 

Taji34 said:
I think Bateman is using his platform to bring more awareness to the Pac-12 Players and their demands by showing his support, but that doesn't mean he's considering doing the same. I could be wrong, but I think Bateman plays if there are games to play.
Click to expand...

I hope so. He's a wonderful talent.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom