Photo by: Liz Parke
Big 12 Boss Bowlsby Eyeing Mid-July Reboot
June 02, 2020 09:30 AM | Football, Blog
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - In a matter of days, Big 12 campuses will be coming back to life with student-athletes returning to begin voluntary workouts.
The conference recently announced the resumption of voluntary workouts starting on June 15, and last Friday, West Virginia announced its phased-return plan for football players.
A two-week protocol for screening, distancing, cleaning and sanitation are part of Phase 1 for returning Mountaineer coaches and players.
The two-week slots are June 8-22 for coaches and support staff and June 15-29 for players.
Both groups will be tested for COVID-19 at least 72 hours prior to their return date, and results must be negative before they can enter WVU's football facilities, according to an athletics department release sent out last Friday.
Personnel will be limited in football facilities at all times and face coverings will be worn in all common areas.
By mid-July, usual preseason football activities should be in place at all 10 conference campus sites.
"We've always known that we needed to get back somewhere around the middle of July," Bowlsby was quoted in Tuesday's Dallas Morning News. "I think we probably have to get started with football activities and football-specific training by sometime around the middle of July."
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has advocated a six-week-return-to-play model.
"It may get shoved around a little bit, but I think it's pretty close to what we'll end up with," Bowlsby noted.
The SEC is targeting a June 8 return date for its football players, as well as a handful of ACC schools including Pitt. Ohio State and Iowa in the Big Ten are also planning for a June 8 phased-in return of its student-athletes.
Meanwhile, Bowlsby mentioned other issues that must be considered as part of the conference's "scenario process" for college football in 2020.
"There are additional things they are working on like how do you safeguard the game officials? How do you make sure they're properly tested and known to be negative before they're coming in contact with the players?" he said. "How do you take care of sideline personnel and essential game management people?
"Do you allow bands on the field? On the road games, do you allow the pep bands to come, or are we going to embargo that for a period of time? Do cheerleaders have masks on? Does everybody on the sideline have to be wearing protective gear?"
All of these are questions that will have to be resolved before the season officially kicks off on Aug. 29 with seven games scheduled on that date.
The first game featuring a Big 12 school is Sept. 3 when Oklahoma State is scheduled to face Oregon State in Stillwater.
West Virginia is slated to open its season on Saturday, Sept. 5 in Atlanta when it faces Florida State in the Chic-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
West Virginia's home opener is Saturday, Sept. 12 against Eastern Kentucky at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Game times for the 2020 season have yet to be announced.
The conference recently announced the resumption of voluntary workouts starting on June 15, and last Friday, West Virginia announced its phased-return plan for football players.
A two-week protocol for screening, distancing, cleaning and sanitation are part of Phase 1 for returning Mountaineer coaches and players.
The two-week slots are June 8-22 for coaches and support staff and June 15-29 for players.
Both groups will be tested for COVID-19 at least 72 hours prior to their return date, and results must be negative before they can enter WVU's football facilities, according to an athletics department release sent out last Friday.
Personnel will be limited in football facilities at all times and face coverings will be worn in all common areas.
By mid-July, usual preseason football activities should be in place at all 10 conference campus sites.
"We've always known that we needed to get back somewhere around the middle of July," Bowlsby was quoted in Tuesday's Dallas Morning News. "I think we probably have to get started with football activities and football-specific training by sometime around the middle of July."
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) has advocated a six-week-return-to-play model.
"It may get shoved around a little bit, but I think it's pretty close to what we'll end up with," Bowlsby noted.
The SEC is targeting a June 8 return date for its football players, as well as a handful of ACC schools including Pitt. Ohio State and Iowa in the Big Ten are also planning for a June 8 phased-in return of its student-athletes.
Meanwhile, Bowlsby mentioned other issues that must be considered as part of the conference's "scenario process" for college football in 2020.
"There are additional things they are working on like how do you safeguard the game officials? How do you make sure they're properly tested and known to be negative before they're coming in contact with the players?" he said. "How do you take care of sideline personnel and essential game management people?
"Do you allow bands on the field? On the road games, do you allow the pep bands to come, or are we going to embargo that for a period of time? Do cheerleaders have masks on? Does everybody on the sideline have to be wearing protective gear?"
All of these are questions that will have to be resolved before the season officially kicks off on Aug. 29 with seven games scheduled on that date.
The first game featuring a Big 12 school is Sept. 3 when Oklahoma State is scheduled to face Oregon State in Stillwater.
West Virginia is slated to open its season on Saturday, Sept. 5 in Atlanta when it faces Florida State in the Chic-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
West Virginia's home opener is Saturday, Sept. 12 against Eastern Kentucky at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Game times for the 2020 season have yet to be announced.
TV Highlights: WVU 74, UCF 67
Sunday, February 15
Ross Hodge | UCF Postgame
Sunday, February 15
United Bank Playbook: UCF Preview
Friday, February 13
Ross Hodge | UCF Preview
Thursday, February 12
