Ray Tanner doesn’t see a situation where football is canceled, only postponed
The coronavirus pandemic had created a large number of questions to which those in the college athletics world simply must answer: “I don’t know.”
But South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner, as he ran through a litany of subjects Wednesday in an interview with 107.5 The Game, made one thing clear: He doesn’t foresee a cancellation of football season.
“If we can’t do it, we postpone it,” Tanner said. “I don’t see a scenario where we cancel it. We will look for a better environment where it’s safe to move forward.”
He said that as the Ivy League is reportedly shutting down all fall sports, including football, with the hope of resuming in the spring. Since COVID-19 shut down the sports world, the hope has been to have college football played roughly on schedule, but between cases rising in South Carolina and the start of preseason rapidly approaching, it seems the optimism for a somewhat normal schedule has started to wane.
Tanner noted that a spring football season will likely have to be an abbreviated one if it happens. He also joked the league’s TV partners would probably appreciate the content.
Getting anything firmly in place will require a range of OKs, from the conference to schools to local and state governments.
“We talk about doing the right things to get ready to play,” Tanner said. “What happens on campus and in your own stadium will probably not be determined by the Southeastern Conference. It’ll be determined by the university or the state.”
Reports surfaced a few days prior that Kentucky’s athletic director was floating the possibility of filling that school’s stadiums to about 50 percent. Tanner stuck with his previous prediction of a social distanced Williams-Brice Stadium having 15,000 fans, maybe 20,000 on the high side.
“I think we’re going to play football,” Tanner said. “I’m optimistic we will. I’m not so sure I can define the dates, maybe as much as I’d like to, but I think at some point we’re going to play. Will it be on time? I’m not saying we won’t be. We could be, but I think we do have those challenges ahead of us.
Other topics Tanner spoke on:
▪ Although the school is not publicly releasing totals of positive COVID tests for student-athletes, Tanner said South Carolina’s numbers have been “extremely” low, with some sports having no positive tests.
More than 100 football players are back on campus, plus two soccer teams and the volleyball team.
▪ Tanner admitted the state’s steadily rising case numbers, along with S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s statement that spectator sports couldn’t happen until the numbers in South Carolina start to fall, were concerning.
“I really felt that the seriousness was important to express from our governor and our leadership across the state,” Tanner said. “Because our numbers are not what we desire them to be that’s no question about it.”
▪ The athletic director noted the department made it through the 2019-20 fiscal year in the black, despite losing the money from the SEC and NCAA that was lost when both NCAA basketball tournaments were canceled.
This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 4:29 PM.
