The COVID challenge rises as TCU football puts pads on Friday amid possible disruptions
The TCU football team won’t be at full strength when fall camp gets underway on Friday. At least a few players are sidelined due to coronavirus protocols, sources said, whether they tested positive for the virus or were in close contact with an individual who has recently.
But TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati expects the program to be ready to go when the season is scheduled to start next month. Having players in and out amid the pandemic is going to be something every program deals with this season.
For now, TCU is preparing to play a Week Zero matchup on Aug. 29.
“If we’re able to play Aug. 29, our football team will be ready,” Donati said. “We fully understand that there could be some disruptions and potentially some student-athletes or even coaches that are out. But we believe that our health and safety protocols are really good. The health and safety of our players and staff is going to come first, but we’re excited to play and we’re hopeful that we can do that Aug. 29.”
Donati said plans remain the same to play Week Zero and Week Two. Opponents have not been finalized yet.
However, sources have indicated that TCU would likely open the season at UNLV on Aug. 29 at Las Vegas’ new Allegiant Stadium. Both TCU and UNLV were scheduled to play Cal in nonconference matchups before the Pac-12 opted for a conference-only schedule.
As far as a possible Week 2 opponent for TCU’s home opener on Sept. 12, sources have indicated that Tennessee Tech is a possibility.
The schedule is subject to change if the Big 12 decides to go with a plus-one model, which would be a 10-game season with nine conference games and one nonconference game. Or even just a conference-only format.
As of this week, the conference continues to go forward with a 12-game model. At the end of the day, though, the conference wants to play as many games as possible.
For now, the focus is on the football program getting through fall camp as healthy as possible. Friday will mark the first day the pads come on for the players and social distancing isn’t strictly adhered to. After all, you can’t go through football practices 6 feet apart.
From a football standpoint, coach Gary Patterson and his staff may have to get creative in how practices are run. With coronavirus protocols requiring individuals who test positive to quarantine for 10 days and those within close contact for 14 days, TCU would not want to have a situation where one offensive lineman could potentially sideline the entire position group.
“Friday the pads come on and we’re going to be stepping over that social distancing threshold,” Donati said. “There’s a lot of things we’re going to find out. The biggest thing is you’ve got to keep everybody safe. I think we’re doing a good job of that. I have been pleasantly surprised at how our student-athletes are taking it seriously but it doesn’t come without challenges.
“We have to remember that they are young men and women in college. We can’t keep our eyes on them every minute of the day, so there are going to be situations that come up that may impact the team that have nothing to do with what we’re doing in our facilities. The education will therefore be ongoing so that we can keep them and those whom they come into contact with as safe as possible.”
This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
