SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey talks with former UF coach Billy Donovan prior to the Gators' home game against Vanderbilt last month at Exactech Arena. (Photo: Alex de la Osa/UAA Communications)
Sankey Discusses SEC Moving Forward, Unknowns Ahead
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 | General, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – What impact the coronavirus will ultimately have on the 2020 college football season remains a mystery. It's already sacked spring football around the country.
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey held a conference call on Tuesday to further address the league's actions since the COVID-19 pandemic changed everyday life in America. He started by stressing the unknown.
"I will note some questions right now are not answerable,'' Sankey said.
Still, Sankey did his best for 30 minutes to address a myriad of topics related to COVID-19 and its impact on college athletics. Much of the conversation, as expected, centered on football. As of today, the league is planning for the start of the 2020-21 athletic calendar following usual protocol.
"Our focus is on preparing for the academic year, the fall season, as currently scheduled,'' Sankey said. "There's a period on the end of that sentence. We'll obviously think about everything going forward, because we're being guided by public health information and decision-making. But my hope is we can return to our normal organized team activities, our normal experiences, and be part of that celebration around soccer, volleyball, cross country, football in the fall. But we'll have to see.
"Last week at this time, I was preparing for basketball games [at the SEC men's tournament]."
The SEC announced Monday that all regular-season conference and non-conference competitions for the rest of the 2019-20 athletic year were canceled, including all championship events. In addition, the league canceled all spring football games and pro days within the conference. Florida's annual Orange & Blue Game was scheduled April 18 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
In the event the coronavirus pandemic improves considerably in the next few weeks according to public health officials, Sankey didn't completely rule out that schools could conduct some form of spring football practice after April 15, currently the date through which all SEC athletic activities on campus are suspended. However, Sankey is not overly optimistic of that becoming a reality.
"We have said no athletic activities through April 15. That doesn't mean we'll be back to normal or to practice activities April 16. It was just a date certain that allows our administrators to communicate with our coaches, with our student-athletes that has resulted in their departures from campus,'' Sankey said. "If you look at the national public messaging about no gatherings above 50 -- it's certainly difficult to conduct any football practice under that limitation. Even with smaller numbers that have been communicated – 10 is often referenced – thereby making it impossible into May.
"I'm not going to be overly optimistic about the return to practice. We haven't fully closed that opportunity, but I think practically that window is pretty narrow."
Should spring practice be wiped out completely, Sankey and league officials will make contingency plans.
"I'm confident if we're not able to practice further this spring, I'm confident that we'll be seeking opportunities to make sure our teams are adequately prepared heading into the season," he said. "Elements of that are going to be guided by the public health realities in front of us."
Sankey said the SEC's athletic directions have instituted a daily conference call to stay up to date on the coronavirus pandemic and how it is impacting the league and individual institutions. The SEC's compliance office has prepared an eight-page analysis of the impact the current landscape has created regarding eligibility issues across winter and spring sports, beyond just seniors.
"To think about, as we turn the page and head to the next chapter of 2021, given what's occurred, the disruption that's occurred, how do we best allow our teams and support our teams in preparation," he said.
If in search of a positive, Sankey said that for now SEC Football Media Days in Atlanta in July is "full-steam ahead."
Of course, like everything else over the past few days, that is subject to change.
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey held a conference call on Tuesday to further address the league's actions since the COVID-19 pandemic changed everyday life in America. He started by stressing the unknown.
"I will note some questions right now are not answerable,'' Sankey said.
Still, Sankey did his best for 30 minutes to address a myriad of topics related to COVID-19 and its impact on college athletics. Much of the conversation, as expected, centered on football. As of today, the league is planning for the start of the 2020-21 athletic calendar following usual protocol.
"Our focus is on preparing for the academic year, the fall season, as currently scheduled,'' Sankey said. "There's a period on the end of that sentence. We'll obviously think about everything going forward, because we're being guided by public health information and decision-making. But my hope is we can return to our normal organized team activities, our normal experiences, and be part of that celebration around soccer, volleyball, cross country, football in the fall. But we'll have to see.
"Last week at this time, I was preparing for basketball games [at the SEC men's tournament]."
The SEC announced Monday that all regular-season conference and non-conference competitions for the rest of the 2019-20 athletic year were canceled, including all championship events. In addition, the league canceled all spring football games and pro days within the conference. Florida's annual Orange & Blue Game was scheduled April 18 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
In the event the coronavirus pandemic improves considerably in the next few weeks according to public health officials, Sankey didn't completely rule out that schools could conduct some form of spring football practice after April 15, currently the date through which all SEC athletic activities on campus are suspended. However, Sankey is not overly optimistic of that becoming a reality.
"We have said no athletic activities through April 15. That doesn't mean we'll be back to normal or to practice activities April 16. It was just a date certain that allows our administrators to communicate with our coaches, with our student-athletes that has resulted in their departures from campus,'' Sankey said. "If you look at the national public messaging about no gatherings above 50 -- it's certainly difficult to conduct any football practice under that limitation. Even with smaller numbers that have been communicated – 10 is often referenced – thereby making it impossible into May.
"I'm not going to be overly optimistic about the return to practice. We haven't fully closed that opportunity, but I think practically that window is pretty narrow."
Should spring practice be wiped out completely, Sankey and league officials will make contingency plans.
"I'm confident if we're not able to practice further this spring, I'm confident that we'll be seeking opportunities to make sure our teams are adequately prepared heading into the season," he said. "Elements of that are going to be guided by the public health realities in front of us."
Sankey said the SEC's athletic directions have instituted a daily conference call to stay up to date on the coronavirus pandemic and how it is impacting the league and individual institutions. The SEC's compliance office has prepared an eight-page analysis of the impact the current landscape has created regarding eligibility issues across winter and spring sports, beyond just seniors.
"To think about, as we turn the page and head to the next chapter of 2021, given what's occurred, the disruption that's occurred, how do we best allow our teams and support our teams in preparation," he said.
If in search of a positive, Sankey said that for now SEC Football Media Days in Atlanta in July is "full-steam ahead."
Of course, like everything else over the past few days, that is subject to change.
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