By Derrick Ow — Reporter
Imagine waking up on New Year’s Day and none of the college football bowl games are on TV.
No Rose Bowl, No Sugar Bowl and no National Championship. A football starved country
Yes, there could be no college football this season. The NCAA’s biggest cash cow could be canceled or postponed. Spring games across the nation were scrapped by COVID-19, and recruiting visits have shifted from in person to online. Freshman and transfer players alike have to learn new playbooks on Zoom.
All this for our entertainment for 12 games.
This is coming from somebody who’s passionate about college football. The sport brings generations and families together. The sport makes alumni reminisce about their days on campus. Seeing 100,000 people jump for joy when their favorite team runs out of the tunnel.
NCAA president Mark Emmert recently made known some of the circumstances necessary to have a college football season this year. One circumstance is there have to be students on campus in order for athletic events to resume in the fall.
There’s a chance you won’t see your Spartans play in a half empty CEFCU Stadium this season. The third season for head coach Brent Brennan was going to be a pivotal one. This was the season the Spartans would finally compete in the Mountain West. This was the season the Spartans could have returned to a bowl game.
College football is the lifeblood of college athletics. All athletic departments get most of their revenue from college football. If there is no college football, then universities will be hurting for years to come.
But players should not be forgotten in this discussion. They will still have to get in shape and get accustomed to their playbooks. It is not like you can jump off the couch and go run routes with Nick Starkel. You cannot play Call of Duty while learning a 3-4 defense. Players still need appropriate time to train
Plus, they still have to find places to stay and get their class schedules in order. They’re still college students after all..
The season is in jeopardy. Coaches and players are eager to meet in person. Fans and alumni want to see college football dominante Saturday again. Writers and broadcasters want to actually see live sports again.
College football is treated like a religion in our country.
The season is supposed to start in four months, but it might be taken off life support during the summer. If we get to see SJSU kick off against Central Michigan on Sept. 5 then it will be a return to normalcy from this nightmare.
Follow Derrick on Twitter @derrickq42