Latest NCAA "Guidance" Leaves a Lot to be Desired

Last Friday, the NCAA issued its second edition of its “Resocialization of College Sport” document. It is noteworthy for several reasons and I'll copy and paste some of my "In the (D3FB) Huddle" partner and co-host, Frank Rossi's takes on it below:

1) Prior mandates (including opt-out rights, eligibility accommodations, and ban on liability waivers) are stated to “remain in place,” but the requirements are stated to have expired on 10/27/2020. It is unclear which is correct.

2) Myocarditis (inflamed heart tissue) risks are only briefly mentioned as “cardiac & exercise considerations for resumption of exercise...” w/ recommendation for screening being only “a tiered approach” based on symptom severity, not universal despite Big 10 suggestions.

3) A wider embrace of Point-of-Care testing is seen, but due to 2% potential of missing positives & its lower price, higher test frequency is recommended if that route is chosen. Antibody testing is not embraced, and non-rapid PCR testing is still preferred.

4) Retesting of prior-positive individuals may be avoided for 150 days to avoid false positives while immunity continues unless symptoms are encountered after the 90th day.

5) Sports & individuals around those sports are now categorized by “sport transmission risk” (low, intermediate, high) and testing strategy tiers (Tier 1, 2, & 3, 1 being highest exposure with a bigger need for aggressive testing strategy).

6) Tier 1 athletes (including MBB/WBB & FB) should be tested 1x weekly (72 hours before) by PCR testing (3x weekly by rapid PCR testing) if an outdoor sport, or 3x weekly for indoor sports unless universal masking, etc., occurs in program.

7) For sports with multiple weekly games that are either back to back or separated by a day, testing should be regular PCR within 3 days of Game 2, and rapid PCR the day of each game.

Ultimately, it is Frank's opinion (and I agree) that "the NCAA needs to alleviate the confusion concerning the expiration of the original mandates". Unfortunately the above, especially the testing costs will make it extremely difficult for D3 sports to take place for the remainder of the 2020-21 academic year, and could possibly impact the fall 2021 season also.

That said, I'm not optimistic for spring D3FB (conferences such as the HCAC, OAC and ASC may be exceptions), but I do think schools will be able to produce some padded practices and/or single scrimmages at least. Frank expands on the above in a recent radio appearance if you care to tune in and listen to it.

I'll have some more Hobart-related content in the near future. Thanks as always for reading and go 'Bart! 

Intra-squad Scrimmage Caught by TWIP

 I was perusing the latest "TWIP" section of the Hobart and William Smith website and came across something we haven't gotten a chance to see so far this fall - the Statesmen playing football on the Boz!

Below it appears as though FY DB Joe McCoy is about to get a PBU on a play intended for SO WR Shahkyle Matthews while FY WR Marcus Lenz looks on. 

While the NCAA hasn't made any changes, other than a blanket eligibility waiver, at the D3 level and we're still in a waiting game, it's at least reassuring to know that practices are happening and Team127 is hard at work. 

I hope to have a feature / interview up in the coming weeks. Thanks for reading and go 'Bart! 

Missing the Boys of Fall

HC Kevin DeWall '00 captured a beautiful moment this morning as the 127th Hobart College football team got some reps in as small, but at least on offense, full squad.

It's hard to believe we're already halfway through October and although it's been proven in several others states high school, college and pro football can and has happened, we will have to continue to wait on the state of New York and the NCAA to figure out if and when D3FB will resume.

I still feel like the potential spring season remains highly in doubt based on financial and legal matters that will dissuade most college presidents and boards from allowing their student athletes to participate.

All that means is we just have to continue hoping the next summer preseason starts as usual and things return, albeit probably to more of a new, normal come August 2021. At least one thing is clear, the Statesmen are diligently preparing for when their next opportunity calls.

In the meantime, let's welcome new LB/ST assistant coach Matt Fleischacker to the team! He has an impressive football background and I'm sure he'll add a lot to the team.

Hopefully we'll see all the coaches on the sidelines and players on the field sooner than later. Honestly, the 127th season of Hobart Football can't come fast enough.

Thanks for checking in and go 'Bart! 

Homecoming Weekend

This weekend marks the annual HWS Homecoming tradition, but it'll be a different one this year. The NCAA and effectively all of D3 shutting down fall sports makes this Homecoming one without any teams returning from the road and playing in front of their fans, friends and families.

Still, HWS is moving on and still hosting a number of events, in person and virtual, this week and into the weekend to celebrate Statesmen, Herons and HWS school spirit. I can't believe it's been a decade since I last attended Homecoming weekend - reuniting with some old friends to play music before the football game (and crashing a make shift easy chair on wheels in the Fall Nationals race).

I had moved from Geneva in the spring of 1998 to take a job with a firm out in Chicago. After being a kid from a rural area and attending a college in a similar setting, this would be my first big city experience. Given that move and then a subsequent one to Los Angeles, it took me over 12 years to make it back to Upstate NY.

The Homecoming (and rock band reunion) weekend made it the perfect excuse to do so and I really enjoyed it (in spite of the 34-14 loss to then #21 Saint John Fisher and the scrapes and contusions from the rally car crash).

In other news, today is the 12-year anniversary / birthday of In the (D3FB) Huddle. We released our Season 13 premiere last Monday. ICYMI you can see it here.

Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy Homecoming weekend. I'll be appearing on WHWS 105.7 FM Friday, 9/25 at 3:25 PM ET to talk a little football with the "Broadstreet Boyz". Tune in if you can. A replay of the interview can be viewed / heard here. 

As always, thanks for reading and go 'Bart!

#NeverForget

 On this 19th anniversary of the attacks of 9-11, I wanted to recognize former Hobart College football player and alumnus Andy Glokin '93 as well as fellow grads Scott Rohner '01 and Michael Simon '83, P '11 who lost their lives that unfortunate day.

I'd also like to recognize the Toyen family, who lost their daughter and sister Amy in the attacks. She was the younger sister of my Avon High School classmate, Heather.

Never Forget.

Forde Earns More Honors, HWS Managing COVID-19 Cases

Although the season was wiped away by the NCAA's rulings on COVID-related precautions/restrictions, D3Football.com went ahead and published a 2020 preseason All-America team. HWSAthletics.com put out a press release on SR OLB Emmett Forde earning yet another first team defensive award late last week.

The D3football.com All American honors completes an impressive preseason trifecta for Forde who was also named to the Street & Smith and Lindy's AA teams

(photo courtesy of HWSAthletics.com & Kevin Colton)

Meanwhile, classes have resumed up in Geneva and so far the Colleges have only had a handful of COVID positive tests with no other issues (e.g., hospitalizations) reported. A very detailed and thorough account of the measures being taken was sent to the broader HWS community by still relatively new Provost and Dean of the Faculty Mary Coffey and Robb Flowers, VP for Campus Life.

What I found to be the best part of this communication was the statement that, "While we know no one wants to hear that we have positive cases, we have anticipated that this would happen and prepared for their management."

Of course cases were bound to happen, albeit these are almost all, if not 100%. likely to be asymptomatic in nature, it's reassuring that the administration's plan is working and mitigating any potential risk to the broader community. 

Hopefully the fall semester will continue without any disruption, and as other states / regions show football can be done relatively safely, the NCAA and D3 can revisit a possible spring season. While I am optimistic by nature, there are still a couple of serious hurdles the NCAA will need to update / address for D3 schools to try and recoup a lost fall season. Time will tell with that. 

In the meantime, thanks for reading and as always, go 'Bart!

 

Where'd the Time Go? CA Celebrates Its 11th Anniversary

 Today, "Comin' Atcha" celebrates it's "official" 11th year / 12th season anniversary, albeit sadly, with no fall season to look forward to covering.

In the next couple of days I'll plan on putting together a "what if" 2020 preseason preview, like I have from past seasons - like this one, from all the way back in 2009. We'll also break down the Class of 2024, which has been added to the roster, along with what appears to be a few new transfers / adds to the team, in general.

Thanks to you Hobart College Football fans, friends and alums for the 280K views to date! While we probably won't hit 300K any time soon without a fall season, it's been a fun ride so far and better days are ahead.

Thanks again as always for reading it - more stuff will be "Comin' Atcha" soon.

Go 'Bart!