UCONN Cancels 2020 Season

I certainly didn’t expect to be writing my first few blog posts about the University of Connecticut football team, but, 2020 and such…

It was announced today that UCONN has canceled the Huskies 2020 football season, their first since becoming an Independent, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“UConn AD David Benedict :”After receiving guidance from state & public health officials & consulting w/football student-athletes, we’ve decided we will not compete this season. Safety challenges created by COVID-19 place football student-athletes at an unacceptable level of risk”

Just yesterday, UCONN Head Coach Randy Edsall said that the decision to play or not to play in 2020 would be left to the student-athletes. Seems to me like their hands may have been forced.

The Big 12 announced their plans to move forward with the 2020 season on Monday. The Big 10 announced their actual schedules this morning. UCONN, however, becomes the first team to sit this season out.

Yes, the health risks are evident. Yes, the safety challenges are aplenty. Nothing about the 2020 season will be easy.

With all of that being said - I would have to think the economic factors played into this decision most for UCONN. As an Independent, their schedule was spread across the country, presenting hurdles through possible travel restrictions and expensive travel budgets. Coming off a 2-10 season in 2019 (0-8 in conference), I don’t believe their 40,000 seat stadium on gameday was expecting to be a big revenue generator. Rampant and consistent testing throughout the season? Those dollars add up.

Decisions like these are not made easily - and the ones making the calls most definitely take all factors into consideration. The bottom line here is just that, the actual bottom line. Dollars and sense, y’all.

Head Coach Randy Edsall, though? Cash that check my man…