There is a sense that it could be easier to keep players safe if campuses are not openedGETTY IMAGES
College officials are warming to the idea of playing football this fall -- even if the rest of the student body isn't on campus, a noteworthy change from the previous line of thought. An AD at a Power 5 school said, "That sentiment is changing." That is due to three main reasons. First, football accounts for up to 80% of the revenue for an FBS athletic department, so even a shortened season would be better than nothing. Second, there is a strong desire for a return to normalcy, and sports can lead the way. Lastly, more is known now than 4-6 weeks ago. NCAA President Mark Emmert hinted at that change in attitude when he told ESPN that the governing body would not get in the way of conferences making their own decisions about football. The California State University system's announcement that it would conduct fall classes online added to that momentum, partially because the decision did not shut down football for Fresno State, San Diego State and San Jose State. Meanwhile, even if campuses do not reopen, there is momentum behind the idea of playing anyway. In fact, there is a sense it will be easier to keep the players safe if colleges do not reopen -- they will be sequestered from the rest of the student body (Michael Smith, THE DAILY).
LOTS OF GRAY AREA: In St. Louis, Dave Matter notes Missouri AD Jim Sterk "pushed back -- several times -- on the notion that schools can only hold athletic events if all students are taking on-campus classes this fall." Sterk said, "It's not an all or none as far as if a school is online, it doesn't necessarily prevent athletic events from happening. Because if a campus is operational, then we could possibly have athletic events" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/15).
CASE-BY-CASE BASIS: Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman said that local governments and league members "would largely be responsible for determining whether or not they can safely conduct sporting events." Ackerman, appearing Thursday night on Rhode Island-based WRPO-FM, said it "looks like every state is going to make its own call" on reopening, and sports events "would be a part of that process." Ackerman added it is "very hard to imagine athletes would be singled out and brought back." Ackerman: "That's almost an easy decision. If you're fully open and it's back to business as usual, I think the athletes are part of the student population that will be welcomed back on campus" (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/15).
