'We are looking at all sorts of scenarios': When will college football return?
EUGENE, Ore. -- As NASCAR, UFC, and other leagues begin to make returns, the college football season remains a bit of a mystery.
Schools, conferences, and government officials are still working out the logistics of what a season, any sort of season, would look like.
Under normal circumstances, spring in college football means depth chart battles and spring games in front of packed houses.
But these aren’t normal circumstances.
No spring games, and as we approach the real games in the fall, what a season will look like is still very uncertain amidst the ongoing pandemic.
Questions persist about when the season will start, how many games will be played, and whether the Ducks will have to play games in front of an empty Autzen Stadium.
“We are looking at all sorts of scenarios," says Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens. "Our goal is to play as many games as possible. We’d love to play all 12 because we have a very exciting schedule, but understand health and safety will be the priority.”
that includes the health and safety of the players, who would need a set amount of time to train before a season can even begin.
“In the discussions we’ve had," Mullens says, "everyone’s rallied around the idea that we’d need a minimum of six weeks to have a safe return to the sport of football.”
Meaning a return in mid-July if the season is to start on time.
And even if there is a delayed start, there are pressures to have any sort of season, especially economic pressures.
“American football is what we call the 800-pound gorilla," says Whitney Wagoner, Director of UO’s Warsaw Sports Marketing Center. “Football is the whole deal, certainly for intercollegiate athletics. In most collegiate athletic departments, the revenue that comes from football funds 90 percent of the operations for the entire department for the entire year.”
Because of that, Wagoner says football will come back as soon as it can--fans or no fans.
“The real first win has to be getting back on TV, because the protection of that revenue stream is actually more significant for most than what the live gate attendance is," Wagoner explains.
These aren’t normal circumstances, but Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal is hopeful because of what the sport means to so many.
“We are encouraged," the coach tells us, "we are feeling that at some point in time, things are going to go well. It’s not just a football game. It’s the student athletes, the surrounding businesses, the community.”
All looking forward, to the return of action on the gridiron.
In positive news for the upcoming season, the NCAA Division I Council on Wednesday lifted the ban on voluntary football training beginning June 1.
Oregon and Oregon State, however, have other limitations they will have to overcome before the Ducks and Beavers are back on the field.
