If I Would Have Told You…
Photo Cred: @JoanieLum
The date is January 1, 2020. You are nursing a hangover from the night before, counting down to 11amET for the day’s bowl games to kickoff, and checking on your black eyed peas in the crock pot. The new year is ripe with opportunity. “2020 Vision in 2020” and all that…
Now, fast forward 8.5 months. Friday August 21st is supposed to be the first weekend of high school football across the majority of the country. College football is just a few short weeks away. Labor Day weekend nears, signaling the end of summer, transition to fall, and most culturally important - time for football.
What if I told you on, January 1, that:
Only 9 states would be playing high school football on August 21st
The Big 10, Pac-12, MAC, and Mountain West have “postponed” their 2020 fall sports
Parents of players from Ohio State, Iowa, and others are currently protesting outside of Big 10 headquarters in Chicago, wanting answers as to why Commissioner Kevin Warren canceled the season
There is roughly a 75% chance (my educated guess) that college football starts the delayed season.
Stadiums would be capped at around a 25% capacity maximum, if any fans are allowed at all.
Yes, this dystopian view is our current reality. The video of Big 10 parents chanting “Let Us Play” outside the commissioner’s office in Chicago, wearing their masks while socially distanced, is 2020 in a nutshell for the college football fan.
At this point, anything is a win. Provided that health and safety protocols/guidelines have been put in place for the student-athletes, football being played - regardless of how it looks - is about the only chance of normalcy we have for our fall traditions.
Tailgating? Who knows. Attending games? If you insist, and are lucky enough to get limited tickets. Schedules played as planned? We can only hope.
What if I would have told you this on January 1, 2020?
We probably would have had a good laugh, cracked open another beer, and taken for granted the slate of top bowl games we were about to enjoy all day long…
Meanwhile, I may need something stronger than a cold beer.