Tech football practice sacked by COVID-19

As uncertainty about playing the 2020 college football season for FBS schools continues increasing, Louisiana Tech has been forced to call a timeout to its preseason practices after announcing Sunday night that five Bulldogs have tested positive for COVID-19.

Late Sunday night Tech Associate Athletics Director for Athletic Communications Malcolm Butler sent out a statement saying, “Louisiana Tech Football had five positive COVID-19 tests results and 13 additional players fall under contact tracing. With the season opener pushed back to Sept 12, it provides flexibility in the practice schedule timeline. Thus the decision has been made to pause practice for the week. Players that don’t fall on the above lists will continue lifting in small groups.”

That was anything but promising news following a weekend in which the 2020 FBS season is reportedly becoming more and more unlikely.

The Midwestern Athletic Conference on Saturday became the first FBS conference to announce it would not pursue a college football season in 2020.

Big Ten presidents reportedly were planning to meet Monday night to make a final decision on whether to cancel the scheduled fall football season for that conference. It was widely reported over the weekend that the Big 10 will likely cancel its season and that the Pac-12 would follow suit if that happens.

On Friday evening Conference USA, of which Louisiana Tech is a member, announced it has approved a 2020 schedule that includes eight conference games and up to four nonconference games. Each member can determine its non-league schedule. Conference play will kick off for some teams Sept. 12, and the league championship game is set for Dec. 5 but can be moved later. The league did not reveal specific matchups and dates for games.

Marshall was set to be the first Conference USA team to open the season, but its Aug. 29 game at East Carolina is being moved to September, ECU confirmed on Friday.

The Conference USA board also approved testing protocols for its teams, which must be matched by non-league opponents.

Then on Monday, C-USA member Old Dominion became the second individual FBS team to announce it will not be playing college football or any fall sports in 2020 over health and safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

ODU is the first FBS program that is a conference member to cancel its season individually. UConn became the first FBS program to cancel its fall sports season last Wednesday.

“We concluded that the season — including travel and competition -- posed too great a risk for our studentathletes,” ODU president John R. Broderick said. “I know many on-and off-campus will be disappointed, but we must prioritize the health and safety of our student-athletes, as well as our coaches, staff and fans.”

UConn, an independent football program, became the first FBS program to cancel its fall sports season last Wednesday.

CBSSports.com on Saturday reported that two prominent Power Five athletic directors have said that cancellation of the 2020 season is “inevitable.”

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey on Twitter on Monday stressed patience as the outcome of whether or not a 2020 FBS football season will be played remains under consideration.

“Be patient,” Sankey tweeted. “Take time when making decisions. This is all new & you’ll gain better information each day.”

“SEC has been deliberate at each step since March ... slowed return to practice ... delayed 1st game to respect start of fall semester … Developed testing protocols...We know concerns remain. We have never had a FB season in a COVID-19 environment. Can we play? I don’t know. We haven’t stopped trying. We support, educate and care for studentathletes every day, and will continue to do so … every day.”