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Just Another Edition Of: "I Told U So!"

Miami Athletics, in conjunction with Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins and local and state government officials, today announced its stadium capacity and safety protocol plan for the 2020 Hurricanes football home opener.

A maximum of 13,000 fans will be allowed to attend the home opener on Thursday, September 10, at Hard Rock Stadium against UAB. Kickoff time will be announced at a later date.

UM season ticket holders will have first priority to participate in an individual game on-sale. Additional details will be communicated via e-mail. If season ticket holders are not interested or able to attend games in-person, a portion or all of the funds in their account can be rolled over in support of the Canes United Covid-19 Relief Initiative. Their accounts can also be credited for the 2021 football season with the funds paid-to-date. A refund is also available if requested.

All seat locations, parking and tenure will be rolled over to the next season automatically. No action is needed for this to occur. UM Athletics has transitioned to a mobile ticketing system so all tickets and parking passes will be delivered electronically and must be scanned in on a mobile device at Hard Rock Stadium. Separate communication will be sent to UM students regarding attendance.

Policies for the 2020 season will include:

• GBAC Star certification
• Socially distanced seating clusters
• All fans and stadium employees will be required to wear a mask when not actively eating or drinking
• Upgrading Air Conditioning filters from Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 10 to MERV 14 (Hospital Grade)
• Mobile touchless entry with more points of entries and exits to help avoid bottlenecks at ingress/egress
• Staggered gate entry with entry times listed on game tickets
• Cashless experience for food service, parking and retail
• New walk through metal detectors with touchless security screening to allow fans to keep all items in their pockets for faster entry
• 1 metal detector for every 104 fans vs 1 metal detector for every 394 fans in 2019
• Changing from manual to contactless toilets and faucets
• No smoking inside the stadium or helixes
• No tailgating for 2020 season with parking lots open two hours before kickoff instead of four hours

Upon entry, fans will go through a touchless security scan. Food, beverage, parking and retail will become a cashless experience supported by in-app mobile and credit card payment options. Express pickup for food and beverage will also be available. Furthermore, all manual faucets, toilet handles, toilets, soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers have been changed to automatic sensors to provide a touchless restroom experience.

These programs are in addition to Hard Rock Stadium becoming the first stadium in the world to receive GBAC STAR™ accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association. Hard Rock Stadium completed 20 program elements focused on cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention practices to control risks associated with infectious agents.

THIS IS WHAT I SUGGESTED WAY BACK IN APRIL:

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.

Practice Makes Perfect

The "Quick Five" from the first scrimmage: https://miamihurricanes.com/

1 – Miami’s playmakers are transitioning well to their new offense

While at SMU last season, Hurricanes offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee presided over one of the nation’s most productive – and exciting – offenses.

The Mustangs averaged 489.9 yards per game, which ranked ninth among all FBS programs and understandably, his decision to join Miami’s staff earlier this year has generated plenty of excitement.

On Sunday, the Hurricanes got a chance to see just how much of Lashlee’s offense they’ve learned and how productive they can be against their ACC rivals this fall.

King was impressive, as was redshirt junior quarterback N’Kosi Perry, who was 8-of-13 for 140 yards with a touchdown pass. Senior receiver Mike Harley had two catches, both of which were touchdowns and redshirt freshman Jeremiah Payton had three catches for 26 yards with a touchdown. Junior Mark Pope had three catches, while Dee Wiggins had one of the biggest plays of the night – a 41-yard grab.

Donald Chaney Jr. and Jaylan Knighton – Miami’s two freshmen running backs – also put up some impressive numbers, the duo combining for 183 yards and two touchdowns.

But more than the yardage or how much progress the offense has made in learning Lashlee’s system in a short time, Diaz noted post-scrimmage how pleased he was with the discipline the unit showed in its first test of camp.

“What I was pleased with was the operation for a first time out as a scrimmage. Your pre-snap penalties, guys lining up the wrong way, just not knowing what to do – I thought we were outstanding in that,” Diaz said. “I thought coach Lashlee and the staff did a great job in getting his guys prepared. I’m sure they’ll watch the film and realize they can be so much better, but again, just in terms of functioning in a scrimmage setting for the first time out and not having a spring. I was very impressed.”

2 – Newcomers are getting opportunities to shine – and capitalizing

 Several of Miami’s top freshmen had extensive opportunities to play Sunday night and they took advantage of those chances, showing teammates and coaches their potential.

Running back Jaylan Knighton had 10 carries for a game-high 126 yards and a touchdown. Fellow running back Donald Chaney Jr. had 11 carries for 57 yards with a touchdown. Receiver Xavier Restrepo had two catches for 54 yards and also rushed for a 70-yard touchdown, while Michael Redding III had three catches for 41 yards and tight end Dominic Mammarelli had two catches for 41 yards.

Freshman defensive end Chantz Williams, meanwhile, had five tackles and two sacks.

Given the way some of those players have performed in camp leading up to Sunday’s scrimmage, Diaz said he wasn’t surprised to see them do well.

Still, that’s not anything to take for granted.

“Both guys had explosive runs,” Diaz said of Chaney and Knighton specifically. “Chaney had some good, hard runs, some short yardage stuff and both of them had the ability, when they got into the open field, to make things happen. … They’ve both had a great camp. It was great to see them get out here. Their first couple carries, a little bit of … ‘Ok,’ but once they got comfortable, you could really see their explosion.”

And while transfer Jaelan Phillips isn’t a freshman, Sunday’s scrimmage marked his first real action in a Hurricanes uniform and the defensive end – who has been earning praise from coaches throughout camp – delivered, pressuring Miami’s quarterbacks consistently and notching a pair of tackles and a sack.

“Jaelan Phillips, we probably played him for maybe a little bit more than a quarter, he’s relentless off the edge,” Diaz said. “Just, for me, standing behind the offense and just watching him and how quick he can move … you like to see guys who’ve had a great week of practice come out on scrimmage day and put it together and Jaelan did.”

3 – Jose Borregales a boost for the kicking game

There’s no doubt Miami’s kicking game endured its share of struggles last season. But the arrival of graduate transfer Jose Borregales should help turn things around on that front.

The kicker, who was 21 of 29 on field goal attempts last season while playing at FIU, connected on all six of his extra-point attempts Sunday and hit a 49-yard field goal on one scoring drive.

That’s encouraging for a program who, last season, had its three kickers combine to go 12-of-20 with a season-long of 50 yards.

4 – Will Mallory once again showed off his athleticism

When his fellow tight end and good friend Brevin Jordan got hurt last season, Will Mallory stepped up to give the Hurricanes a boost late in the year.

Mallory had a career performance against FIU on Nov. 23, catching four passes for 71 yards. A week later at Duke, he bested those numbers with four catches for a new career-high 93 yards.

The junior picked up where he left off Sunday, showing off his athleticism with a scrimmage-high four catches for 71 yards and a 5-yard touchdown pass that elicited some excited fist pumps from quarterback D’Eriq King, who threw the pass.

“Will has really, really improved being physical in that C and D gap. Obviously, his catch radius is really, really good,” tight ends coach Stephen Field said of Mallory heading into Sunday’s scrimmage. “He’s tall, he’s strong, he’s fast, he can run and the fact that now he’s getting really, really good in blocking and his technique is getting good. That’s something that’s going to be really good for him and something he’s worked on with his physicalness and his strengths.”

5 – Young linebackers are progressing

One of the biggest questions Miami faces heading into this season comes at a spot that has been beyond reliable for the Hurricanes over the course of the last four years – linebacker.

But now that stalwart four-year starters Shaq Quarterman and Mike Pinckney have moved on to their professional careers, the Hurricanes will need to find playmakers to fill the void.

Redshirt senior Zach McCloud is expected to lead the group, but others – including redshirt juniors Waynmon Steed and Bradley Jennings, Jr. both of whom are coming off injuries – will need to contribute.

On Sunday night, they did, with Steed notching five tackles. Freshman Corey Flagg Jr., meanwhile, had four tackles and a sack while sophomore Sam Brooks had five tackles and a sack.

“I first have to point out Bradley Jennings and Waynmon Steed, both coming off injuries, both made a lot of good things happen,” Diaz said. “But then you mention [Sam] Brooks, [Avery] Huff, and Corey Flagg and Tirek Austin-Cave, Flagg and Cave, they left their mark a few times on some big hits. It’s fun. We’ve got a great competition at linebacker, and not even to mention Zach McCloud, we’ve got a lot of guys that have been getting in play and that competition is far from over.”

It's The End Of The World As We Know It

The cancel culture has apparently ripped the heart out of college football.

Not only are individual universities now cancelling the 2020 college football season but now an entire conference has decided to board up shop, pack their bags and call it a day. Uh, make that a full year.

And it looks so easy that a caveman (and/or a UM fan) could do it.

Today the MAC conference called off the 2020 season in simple fashion. They never made money on college football anyway but pretended it was fun while trying. The thought of losing millions of  dollars per team was an option they just couldn't swallow. Here was a portion of the press release:

"The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has announced the postponement of all scheduled fall contests, as well as MAC championships, due to continuing concerns related to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Council of Presidents unanimously voted to take this action with the health and safety of its student-athletes, coaches and communities as its top priority. It is the intention of the membership to provide competitive opportunities for the student-athletes in these sports during the spring semester of 2021."

Other conferences are likely to follow.

And the end of the world as we know it will officially arrive.

Once all college sports are cancelled, and the revenue generated disappears rather quickly, the universities, stadiums, campuses and businesses that they supported will be faded, distant memories. The jobs and employees lost there will easily be in the millions nationwide. From parking, to concessions, to security to maintenance the impact is severe. And we know it.

Miami (UM), Orlando (UCF) and Tampa (USF) as cities will be fine. But does anyone here think that Gainesville as a city can survive NOT having a thriving university full of students or a successful athletics program support that small, backwoods, swamp town? Not a chance that town can survive.

And that scenario will be repeated a 100 times over all across this great Country. The towns of Tuscaloosa, Athens, Norman, Omaha, Eugene, Ann Arbor and Columbus are all at risk of some serious economic decline.

Here are the  reasons why:

1. Each team may have to cancel the 2020 season.
2. Each university easily employes 50-100 personnel in their football team staffing departments.
3. Each university employes 1000's of people in their athletic departments that rely on football revenue.
4. There are 125 Division I or FBS college football teams with over 12,500 football employees minimally.
5. The other athletic department employees that depended on that revenue are well over 2-3 million.
6. All of those people all across the Country have mortgages and car payments.
7. Cancelling the 2020 season puts all of those people at risk of foreclosures and repossesions.

So you are not concerned yet? Well you should be. Here's why.

This is only an example of one sport on one level of athletics.

MLB has been reduced to no revenue and no fans in the stands.

NASCAR has been reduced to racing with no revenue with no fans in the stands.

The NBA has to live in a "bubble" in Orlando to try to make it work.

The NFL could be next on the chopping block (not concerned there).

If you remove all major professional sports and college football from the economic equation, not to mention the TSully exclusive executive decision option, then you are left with next to nothing.

And when left with nothing, you are one step closer to chaos and and anarchy.

Which apparently is what some people want and where we are headed.

God help us all.