Even as some States begin to relax COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, many federal, state and local officials are beginning to develop plans on if, when and how their cities, states and the Country as a whole can eventually resume normal operations. These plans also include when large crowd events such as religious services, concerts and sports events can resume.
The fact that the ratings for something as mundane as the 2020 NFL Draft from the Commissioner's basement was among the highest rated TV "sports events" ever held demonstrates how important the need to get back on the field, the court, the rink or the track is in terms of healing the Nation's psyche and restoring any sense of normalcy.
While I am not a medical professional or elected official, I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express and I also graduated from the University of Miami (with honors) so I decided I would give it my best shot at solving this situation.
We will divide this effort into four sections: The stadium requirements (seating and sanitizing), the players, coaches and other team personnel requirements (testing and treatment), the fan requirements (testing and PPE) and the season schedule (several options).
STADIUM REQUIREMENTS:
All stadium personnel tested and cleared before returning to work and once a month during the season.
Sanitize entire stadium including food service areas, bathrooms and seating areas before each game.
Hand Sanitizer stations at entry gates and throughout stadiums at all food service and bathroom areas.
Stagger seating on each row (odd/even #seats) and/or skip rows in between.
First game 20,000 fans allowed with every fourth seat occupied (other seats marked with X).
Second Game 30,000 fans allowed every third seat occupied (see above).
Third Game 40,000 fans allowed every other seat occupied (see above).
Games 4-7 a total of 60,000 fans maximum capacity at all stadiums regardless of seating capacity.
If at any time an outbreak occurs then the season would be halted or canceled.
FAN REQUIREMENTS:
Pre-attendance negative test certification within 30 days of date of first game through private medical doctors, public testing facilities already in place and/or drive thru testing sites located at stadium parking lots (multiple sites/entrances) starting 30 days prior to the season beginning.
Mandatory quick forehead temperature scan at entry.
Fans required to sanitize at entry and throughout stadiums at food service and restroom areas.
Face covering or mask and gloves required for first three games and then recommended after that.
Free college emblem masks and team colored gloves at entry at scrimmage and first three games.
Only season ticket holders may attend. Maximum of 60,000 season tickets may be sold. Season tickets would be priced differently for attending 7, 6, 5 or 4 games in 2020.
This incorporates the fact that during the first three games only 20k, 30k, and 40k fans would attend. For those fans who are younger, in good health and are more willing to take more risk they would be able to attend all seven home games, while for those older or more cautious fans they could choose to attend as few as four games giving both groups opportunities and options.
This also makes testing much easier prior to the season starting and greatly minimizes the risk to a very small sub-group of the population (60,000 max). This also makes it easy to track and trace contacts of this group both while at the stadium and afterwards while in the community.
PLAYERS AND COACHES:
Test all players and coaches prior to practice resuming and scrimmages being held.
Test all players and coaches prior to each regular season game.
Any coach or player testing positive to be ruled ineligible to play/coach, isolated and treated with available drug interventions.
All travel is on team only chartered flights and/or buses.
GAME SCHEDULE:
Three week Fall practice schedule in normal time frame (August). Players/coaches tested weekly.
Fall Scrimmages: First scrimmage is closed to the public, no TV. Second Scrimmage is televised but no fans. Third scrimmage is public with 10,000 fans maximum (negative test certification required, social distancing and PPE required) and televised.
Regular Season Option A: Gradual return with six conference only games with two weeks in between games (12 week season).
Televised team scrimmages in between games that count against other teams.
Two weeks between games allows for additional testing, diagnosis and treatment when indicated.
Two teams selected by conference to play in conference championship game at neutral site.
No National Championship first year, only conference records and championships recorded.
Regular Season Option B: Total return with 12 regularly scheduled games, conference and non-conference.
No changes to regularly scheduled games with seven home games and five away games.
No change to conference or National championship games.
Regular Season Option C: Eliminate conferences for one year and only intra-state games allowed (8 game practice season).
Eliminates long flights or travel to highly affected areas.
Miami would play all Florida schools: FSU, UF, UCF, USF, FAU, FIU, FAMU, BCC, etc. Teams may play more than once if needed.
I AM JUST SAYING!!!
Posted by: 86Cane | July 09, 2020 at 11:00 PM
Option C. Head to head with FSU and especially Florida could bring us a bounty of fruits of our Labor.
Posted by: TheHerb | July 09, 2020 at 11:05 PM
10 Game ACC Conference Schedule Play Notre Dame as Nonconference Game Got 2 Bye Weeks That Way!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | July 10, 2020 at 12:50 AM
These are interesting suggestions.
However if there is no season in 2020, the ramifications for a number of colleges are frightening. Many schools have accumulated debts or are presently running large deficits in athletic spending due to stadium refurbishment and athletic temple construction (in the case of the former, thankfully we are okAy).
Posted by: TonyCane | July 10, 2020 at 09:26 AM
I’m guessing consumption of alcohol would have to be modified as well.
Same with tailgating
Posted by: KYcane | July 10, 2020 at 06:04 PM
I originally posted this blog article April 26.
Nobody cared. Nobody read it. Nobody commented.
SolarCane knew I was telling the truth.
Posted by: 58 Straight | July 10, 2020 at 11:24 PM
However if there is no season in 2020, the ramifications for a number of colleges are frightening.
Posted by: TonyCane | July 10, 2020 at 09:26 AM
True, but that is only one minor concern.
This is a fact for all large and small businesses.
This is also true for our entire Country.
Good luck out there.
Posted by: 58 Straight | July 10, 2020 at 11:27 PM
Same with tailgating
Posted by: KYcane | July 10, 2020 at 06:04 PM
And Pringles?
Posted by: 58 Straight | July 10, 2020 at 11:28 PM
On April 26th I wrote this:
FAN REQUIREMENTS:
Pre-attendance negative test certification within 30 days of date of first game through private medical doctors, public testing facilities already in place and/or drive thru testing sites located at stadium parking lots (multiple sites/entrances) starting 30 days prior to the season beginning.
On May 6 Governor Desantis announced this on live TV from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami:
"This testing site at hard Rock Stadium in Miami has been one of the best and most productive testing sites in the State if not the Country. They have performed over 20,000 tests at this site alone. We will now be adding the seriologic tests to test for anit-bodies to the the virus to see how many have had the virus and have developed the anti-bodies. This is a very important next step to being able to move forward and continue opening up the State."
But since this falls under one of those topics that apparently "I know nothing about" you can just ignore these facts. That is all.
Posted by: 86Cane | May 06, 2020 at 11:21 AM
Posted by: 58 Straight | July 11, 2020 at 12:19 AM
Kinchens, I believe announces today. Another got to have, for the U and would be a clean sweep of MNW high school. Hopefully the dude don't dance to Da beet of a different drumma.
Posted by: HerbieIbis | July 11, 2020 at 10:17 AM
Herb - noon and they say he is a stronger prospect than williams from last year
Williams and kinchens would be a nice young safety tandem!
Posted by: AeroCane | July 11, 2020 at 11:08 AM
58, absolutely. This has game changing societal and business ramifications if it lasts much longer.
Posted by: TonyCane | July 11, 2020 at 11:10 AM
I have about 40 small business clients that I helped get the PPP loan - a life saver for these companies and their employees who kept a paycheck because of the PPP rather than being termed!
Posted by: AeroCane | July 11, 2020 at 11:27 AM
Kinchens to the U!
That’s 5 from mnw!
Posted by: AeroCane | July 11, 2020 at 12:11 PM
I would like us to play Florida and Florida State in the same season, like this year. Even if they call off most football, intra-state games would be cool. Time is flying and we shall know soon. I haven't been north since December 18th. I love my school, like all of you, and hope for good health to all my CANESPACER FAMILY.
Posted by: MLALUMNI1970 | July 11, 2020 at 12:50 PM
Oh yes, just broomed MNW.
Be nice if we could do the same with Palmetto but that is really asking to much. Long as we scoop Taylor, I'm good. We truly need an A-1 corner and Marshall would be the man but he is at present not even in our stratosphere, YET!
Posted by: HerbieIbis | July 11, 2020 at 01:18 PM
That’s awesome, Aero.
Posted by: TonyCane | July 11, 2020 at 03:12 PM
I think Miami has a real opportunity to clean up in recruiting during this situation. This could end up being a truly foundational class.
Overall, I really like how CMR and now Diaz have stacked talent. We went from around 40 blue chip players under Shannon to the mid 20s under Golden, and even the 2017 squad was only at 27. We’re now back at 40-41 and starting to accumulate quality depth at positions.
Posted by: TonyCane | July 11, 2020 at 03:15 PM
I agree Tonycane!
Now he has to prove he can coach them. I think he did a GREAT job with the OC, WR and OL coaches!
Now I want to see improvement with him as HC and Blake as DC!
And herb, it would be nice to get 1 or more of the 4/5 star kids from palmetto
Posted by: AeroCane | July 11, 2020 at 04:37 PM
Longer this covid crap stays around, some of those dudes that had visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads going to another state, may end staying close to the crib.
Posted by: HerbieIbis | July 11, 2020 at 06:39 PM
may end staying close to the crib.
Posted by: HerbieIbis | July 11, 2020 at 06:39 PM
I always stay close to the crib.
Unless of course that the...ok, never mind.
Posted by: 58 Straight | July 11, 2020 at 10:22 PM
The more I read on l Taylor, the more I realize he’s got to come to the U over the hated gators! He’s gonna be the DL that we need to complement our great DE’s.
Posted by: AeroCane | July 12, 2020 at 02:12 PM
We need to pick up our CB and LB recruiting
Wake up rumph and patke!
Posted by: AeroCane | July 12, 2020 at 02:16 PM
That's a fat fact Aero!
Posted by: HerbieIbis | July 12, 2020 at 04:52 PM
So the Redskins are changing their name.
So there'll be the obvious suggestions of Politicians or Partisans plus hordes of derogatory terms. I'm thinking something more in a similar vein, something politically correct and politically relevant: Orangeskins
Posted by: Old Skool | July 13, 2020 at 10:34 AM
I hate helping out Notre Dame. Let them join a conference
Posted by: HillViewCane | July 13, 2020 at 12:24 PM
I hate helping out Notre Dame. Let them join a conference
Posted by: HillViewCane | July 13, 2020 at 12:24 PM
Roger that HVC
Posted by: KYcane | July 13, 2020 at 01:07 PM
Great news
Former FSU assistant coach Telly Lockette is officially on Miami’s football staff.
I understand he’s an excellent recruiter
Posted by: AeroCane | July 13, 2020 at 01:21 PM
From inside the U
Lockette has deep recruiting ties to Dade County. He is a former head coach at powerhouse Miami Central and was an offensive coordinator at Miami Northwestern, which is Lockette’s alma mater, prior to that.
While at FSU, Lockette was the primary recruiter for four-star offensive lineman Dontae Lucas and three-star cornerback Jarvis Brownlee. Lockette beat Miami head-to-head for both players.
He’s officially been on staff since March
Posted by: AeroCane | July 13, 2020 at 02:28 PM
He’s officially been on staff since March
Posted by: AeroCane | July 13, 2020 at 02:28 PM
Don’t see him listed on website
What is his position
Posted by: KYcane | July 13, 2020 at 05:33 PM
Article here saying no CFB: https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/time-to-face-reality-no-one-is-playing-college-football-in-the-fall-170634809.html
Writer thinks that even spring football is just a make believe stage that will be forgotten shortly, like the NCAA March tournament playing in front of no fans.
Posted by: TonyCane | July 13, 2020 at 05:41 PM
InsideTheU can now confirm that Lockette is on Miami’s staff. His official title is: senior quality control analyst.
Posted by: AeroCane | July 13, 2020 at 06:08 PM
Notre Dame, thinks they are above everyone else. Bunch of snobs. ACC's fault for letting them dictate to what degree they would do football. Either they need to be a full conference member or dump them out.
Posted by: The Herb | July 13, 2020 at 07:32 PM
Herb
So true - i wish the acc would grow a set and give them the ultimatum
Posted by: AeroCane | July 13, 2020 at 08:21 PM
Does anyone know what the percentage of ACC $ goes to Notre Dame?
Posted by: KYcane | July 13, 2020 at 08:37 PM
Notre Dame Gets Like 12 Million Dollars as Compared To Miami, Clemson, FSU, VT, UNC, Louisville Getting Like 36 Million KY!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | July 13, 2020 at 08:41 PM
Besides The ACC Is Smart Ti Have Their Agreement With Notre Dame they have them in every other sport besides Football and they are guaranteed at least 5 Games Annually( This Year It was 6 Games and will go to at least 9 Games This Year) And Notre Dame Can Only Join The ACC And The Agreement Ribs through June 30, 2038!
Posted by: Terrance Sullivan | July 13, 2020 at 08:46 PM
Coaches putting in the work!
Per inside the U
Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei three-star offensive lineman Ross Maseuli dropped a top five Monday night and Miami made the cut along with Alabama, USC, Michigan and Hawaii.
6’2.5, 350
Posted by: AeroCane | July 13, 2020 at 09:28 PM
Aero,
If we keep rolling in recruiting, we won't have room for another OH Linemen not named Tristan Leigh.
Posted by: 305 Profit | July 13, 2020 at 09:59 PM
If Lockett has been on the staff since March it is kind of strange that he is STILL not listed on the UM website? Is he impersonating Joe Biden?
Posted by: 58 Straight | July 13, 2020 at 11:18 PM