Fresno State announces plan for fall semester, but what about football?

In unveiling a plan to reopen campus Fresno State president Dr. Joseph I. Castro said on Friday that a decision on football and fall sports is pending further guidance from the Governor’s Office, California Department of Public Health, Mountain West Conference and California State University Chancellor’s Office.

A decision on practices and competitions, Castro said, is expected “later this summer.”

But there is no timetable on that call, and a CSU spokesperson said the number of COVID-19 cases in a region and the growing number of positive tests at schools across the nation that already have student-athletes on campus for workouts will likely play into that decision.

That could complicate a return for Fresno State, San Diego State and San Jose State, the three CSU schools that play football in the Mountain West.

“The prevalence of cases of COVID-19 in a given region will likely impact decision-making,” said Toni Molle, director of public affairs for the CSU. “We are awaiting guidance from the Governor’s office related to athletics and hope to have that in the near future.

“The reports detailing the spread of the disease among student-athletes at other institutions outside of California is concerning and warrants additional reflection.”

COVID-19 athletics shutdowns across nation

Several schools have had to shut down voluntary on-campus workouts due to positive COVID-19 tests either within athletics or across campus.

Boise State on Monday closed all of its facilities after finding eight positive or presumed positive coronavirus tests across campus, and has extended that shutdown to July 5 after it was notified that there were 20 more positive tests with the results of dozens of additional tests pending.

Kansas State shut down workouts for two weeks after 14 student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19. Houston also suspended voluntary workouts after student-athletes tested positive. And on Friday, UNLV shut down voluntary workouts through at least July 5 after four student-athletes tested positive.

Multiple positive tests have been reported at Clemson, LSU, Alabama and Florida, among others, and the basketball program at Grand Canyon was put into quarantine Wednesday after four players and two staff members tested positive for the coronavirus.

The rate of positive COVID-19 tests in Fresno County (about 8.1%) also is higher than the statewide rate.

NCAA protocol for return of athletics

The NCAA allowed schools to bring student-athletes back to campus for voluntary workouts on June 1 and its Division I Council has approved a six-week mandatory football practice plan leading up to fall camp.

Fresno State could start a summer practice period on July 13 that includes six hours of training with the strength and conditioning staff and two hours of film review with coaches.

That would be followed on July 24 by 20 hours per week of walk-throughs and meetings, as well as weight training, conditioning and film review leading into fall camp.

Fresno State is scheduled to play its first game Sept. 5 against Idaho State at Bulldog Stadium.

Quarantine before workouts, practices

A late start would be a small thing in the bigger picture, but time is running short to hit that schedule. When the Bulldogs’ student-athletes do return to campus they will go through an isolation or quarantine period, testing for COVID-19 and full physical examinations prior to taking part in any voluntary or required team activities.

Initial isolation periods at schools have varied in length, but a 14-day quarantine would have to start Monday if the Bulldogs were to start the NCAA-approved mandatory workouts on July 13.

While waiting for word from the CSU and state officials, Fresno State has been working on plans to try to keep its student-athletes safe once they return to campus, addressing safety protocols and how to manage team and position meetings, film sessions, locker room space, weight training and practices.

“Right now, the most important thing that we think about is the safety and well-being of our student-athletes and how to reintroduce them to our campus,” athletics director Terry Tumey said. “That’s our main focus, our main concern.”