ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit stayed on an ESPN radio appearance Thursday that he would be “shocked” if either the 2020 NFL or college football seasons take place because of the coronavirus pandemic. Herbstreit discussed the potential of all football being canceled this year.
“I’ll be shocked if we have NFL football this fall, if we have college football. I’ll be so surprised if that happens,” he said. “Just because, from what I understand, people that I listen to, you’re 12 to 18 months from a [COVID-19] vaccine. I don’t know how you let these guys go into locker rooms and let stadiums be filled up and how you can play ball. I just don’t know how you can do it with the optics of it.”
“Next thing you know you got a locker room full of guys that are sick. And that’s on your watch? I wouldn’t want to have that,” he said. “As much as I hate to say it, I think we’re scratching the surface of where this thing’s gonna go.”
ESPN Analyst-Kirk Herbstreit
Herbstreit also stated the limited preparation time would also be a factor. Even if the coronavirus outlook started to improve by late summer you still don’t all of a sudden come up with something in July or August and say OK we’re good to go and turn ’em loose!
Most NCAA spring practices have been postponed or canceled already and the NFL has delayed offseason team activities indefinitely because of Covid-19.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney released a video on Wednesday that discussed his team, staff, and the Coronavirus precautions taken. He said he was “very hopeful” that the college season would take place this fall, but also added that sports are on the back burner for now.
As of now no timetable has been given by the NFL or the NCAA about when a final decision would be made about the 2020 seasons. Like most fans, Tiger fans are hoping it does not come to that because sports is a great escape from everyday life.
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