So talking to Alex yesterday during our Labor Day meat-fest (I smoked ribs, Sheila did pulled pork, and we combined on prepping chicken teriyaki skewers) we got to talking aobut Spring ball for the Eagles. While the guys would love to be playing this fall, it appears the team is generally taking the COVID thing and the myocarditis concerns pretty seriously. Alex said all lifts and workouts are COVID-safe, and he feels pretty good about how the coaches and his fellow teammates are addressing the situation.

What I found quite interesting was Alex's take on Spring ball. From his perspective, the guys appear to be pretty fired up to play in the Spring, and the lifting and workout schedule the coaches have planned focuses on that likelihood. Most interesting was Alex's comment that word among the players is that there is a strong interest on the part of the networks in televising Spring games, and there might be an advantageous benefit to EMU as far as their television contract goes for Spring ball versus what they would have received for their Fall ball contract.

From a television-sports perspective, I can see where effectively two College Football seasons (current active conferences in the Fall and all the postponing conferences in the Spring) would be appealing. Would MAC spring ball provide better television contracts and broader exposure for MAC football in the Spring versus what they typically see in the Fall? An interesting concept to chew on. And if it is indeed the case, the fiscal benefits might help make up for what's being lost for the big-money out of conference ggames the MAC teams lost this fall. Hell...it might even open some doors to see some interesting MAC/PAC-12 matchups and paydays in the Spring.

My thoughts:

Yes, there will be a split season, unless Covid gets really bad. I do believe there is television interest in spring ball. The networks bit on the spring pro league earlier this year and was well received before the pandemic ended it.. The window, late Feb - mid April, is a good window. That is pretty much a dead period other than March Madness. NBA season is getting long in the tooth, ditto NHL. Quite frankly fans would rather watch CFB than pre-season MLB games in March.

What I would like to see is six conference games + 1 or 2 OOC games. I could see the B1G playing one weekend of games of B1G vs. MAC before starting the conference season.

My guess, and it is only a guess, is a max of 8 games, mid-Feb to Mid-April.

(09-08-2020 10:36 AM)cidbearit Wrote:  So talking to Alex yesterday during our Labor Day meat-fest (I smoked ribs, Sheila did pulled pork, and we combined on prepping chicken teriyaki skewers) we got to talking aobut Spring ball for the Eagles. While the guys would love to be playing this fall, it appears the team is generally taking the COVID thing and the myocarditis concerns pretty seriously. Alex said all lifts and workouts are COVID-safe, and he feels pretty good about how the coaches and his fellow teammates are addressing the situation.

What I found quite interesting was Alex's take on Spring ball. From his perspective, the guys appear to be pretty fired up to play in the Spring, and the lifting and workout schedule the coaches have planned focuses on that likelihood. Most interesting was Alex's comment that word among the players is that there is a strong interest on the part of the networks in televising Spring games, and there might be an advantageous benefit to EMU as far as their television contract goes for Spring ball versus what they would have received for their Fall ball contract.

From a television-sports perspective, I can see where effectively two College Football seasons (current active conferences in the Fall and all the postponing conferences in the Spring) would be appealing. Would MAC spring ball provide better television contracts and broader exposure for MAC football in the Spring versus what they typically see in the Fall? An interesting concept to chew on. And if it is indeed the case, the fiscal benefits might help make up for what's being lost for the big-money out of conference ggames the MAC teams lost this fall. Hell...it might even open some doors to see some interesting MAC/PAC-12 matchups and paydays in the Spring.

Thanks for the post! I still think the MAC made the right call on fall football although I really want to see it played. At a minimum they now have five months to plan for a spring season rather than rushed, impromptu scheduling that the Power 5 conferences were doing. They will also have the knowledge gleaned from the SEC, ACC etc... playing this fall.

I vigorously maintain that the only way to maintain baseball as a relevant, fan friendly and economical sport in the Midwest is to split the season into a fall first half and a later spring second half. Playing a spring football season is a break in tradition that if successful, could allow this to happen.

(09-08-2020 05:24 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 10:36 AM)cidbearit Wrote:  So talking to Alex yesterday during our Labor Day meat-fest (I smoked ribs, Sheila did pulled pork, and we combined on prepping chicken teriyaki skewers) we got to talking aobut Spring ball for the Eagles. While the guys would love to be playing this fall, it appears the team is generally taking the COVID thing and the myocarditis concerns pretty seriously. Alex said all lifts and workouts are COVID-safe, and he feels pretty good about how the coaches and his fellow teammates are addressing the situation.

What I found quite interesting was Alex's take on Spring ball. From his perspective, the guys appear to be pretty fired up to play in the Spring, and the lifting and workout schedule the coaches have planned focuses on that likelihood. Most interesting was Alex's comment that word among the players is that there is a strong interest on the part of the networks in televising Spring games, and there might be an advantageous benefit to EMU as far as their television contract goes for Spring ball versus what they would have received for their Fall ball contract.

From a television-sports perspective, I can see where effectively two College Football seasons (current active conferences in the Fall and all the postponing conferences in the Spring) would be appealing. Would MAC spring ball provide better television contracts and broader exposure for MAC football in the Spring versus what they typically see in the Fall? An interesting concept to chew on. And if it is indeed the case, the fiscal benefits might help make up for what's being lost for the big-money out of conference ggames the MAC teams lost this fall. Hell...it might even open some doors to see some interesting MAC/PAC-12 matchups and paydays in the Spring.

Thanks for the post! I still think the MAC made the right call on fall football although I really want to see it played. At a minimum they now have five months to plan for a spring season rather than rushed, impromptu scheduling that the Power 5 conferences were doing. They will also have the knowledge gleaned from the SEC, ACC etc... playing this fall.

I vigorously maintain that the only way to maintain baseball as a relevant, fan friendly and economical sport in the Midwest is to split the season into a fall first half and a later spring second half. Playing a spring football season is a break in tradition that if successful, could allow this to happen.

I agree with your points, but college baseball has its World Series in June.

Would the NCAA permit a fall first half (say OOC games) and then conference games starting in March????

Expect no help from the SEC!x100

(09-08-2020 05:37 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 05:24 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 10:36 AM)cidbearit Wrote:  So talking to Alex yesterday during our Labor Day meat-fest (I smoked ribs, Sheila did pulled pork, and we combined on prepping chicken teriyaki skewers) we got to talking aobut Spring ball for the Eagles. While the guys would love to be playing this fall, it appears the team is generally taking the COVID thing and the myocarditis concerns pretty seriously. Alex said all lifts and workouts are COVID-safe, and he feels pretty good about how the coaches and his fellow teammates are addressing the situation.

What I found quite interesting was Alex's take on Spring ball. From his perspective, the guys appear to be pretty fired up to play in the Spring, and the lifting and workout schedule the coaches have planned focuses on that likelihood. Most interesting was Alex's comment that word among the players is that there is a strong interest on the part of the networks in televising Spring games, and there might be an advantageous benefit to EMU as far as their television contract goes for Spring ball versus what they would have received for their Fall ball contract.

From a television-sports perspective, I can see where effectively two College Football seasons (current active conferences in the Fall and all the postponing conferences in the Spring) would be appealing. Would MAC spring ball provide better television contracts and broader exposure for MAC football in the Spring versus what they typically see in the Fall? An interesting concept to chew on. And if it is indeed the case, the fiscal benefits might help make up for what's being lost for the big-money out of conference ggames the MAC teams lost this fall. Hell...it might even open some doors to see some interesting MAC/PAC-12 matchups and paydays in the Spring.

Thanks for the post! I still think the MAC made the right call on fall football although I really want to see it played. At a minimum they now have five months to plan for a spring season rather than rushed, impromptu scheduling that the Power 5 conferences were doing. They will also have the knowledge gleaned from the SEC, ACC etc... playing this fall.

I vigorously maintain that the only way to maintain baseball as a relevant, fan friendly and economical sport in the Midwest is to split the season into a fall first half and a later spring second half. Playing a spring football season is a break in tradition that if successful, could allow this to happen.

I agree with your points, but college baseball has its World Series in June.

Would the NCAA permit a fall first half (say OOC games) and then conference games starting in March????

Expect no help from the SEC!x100

Steve as we have seen the NCAA is an impotent, unorganized yet financially focused organization. The conferences decide when they play football, the NCAA only has control of the championships awarded. Other than Oak's team in 1976, absolutely ZERO MAC teams have even come close to being NCAA champions, I doubt the NCAA would truly care with how our league representatives arrived there.

Thus the MAC can play conference or OOC games in the fall as they wish, resume the season in spring and decide their champion prior to the NCAA tournament. Playing the season this way, negates the big $$$ need to travel south early, tax pitching arms too soon and start the MAC season in adverse weather as well. I love Oestrike Stadium, but baseball games in March are usually too freaking cold to attend and enjoy.

This is what we are missing...

https://twitter.com/AdamJaksa/status/130...85189?s=20

Dear steve,
What are we missing there? I don't get your point with showing a replay of a game, when the discussion seemed to be going on about baseball.

This is a football thread.

Long live the SBC.
Two nice B12 upsets.

(09-12-2020 03:01 PM)emu steve Wrote:  Long live the SBC.
Two nice B12 upsets.

I'm wondering how much the previous home field advantage means to the P5 schools. Those festive environments outside the stadium and large crowds inside had to energize the home players while also influencing officiating. These games are being played in a far more neutral environment. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues.

(09-12-2020 05:00 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-12-2020 03:01 PM)emu steve Wrote:  Long live the SBC.
Two nice B12 upsets.

I'm wondering how much the previous home field advantage means to the P5 schools. Those festive environments outside the stadium and large crowds inside had to energize the home players while also influencing officiating. These games are being played in a far more neutral environment. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues.

Agree.

Was wondering if we were going to see more upsets and weirder outcomes this season with all sense of normalcy thrown out the window.

The team we were to play, Coastal Carolina, beat Kansas yesterday. SBC beat 3 B12 teams. #SBC>B12

The biggest upset, which did NOT, happen was Texas Tech 35 Houston Baptist 33. (I didn't even know Houston Baptist has a FB team).

(09-13-2020 04:50 AM)emu steve Wrote:  The team we were to play, Coastal Carolina, beat Kansas yesterday. SBC beat 3 B12 teams. #SBC>B12

The biggest upset, which did NOT, happen was Texas Tech 35 Houston Baptist 33. (I didn't even know Houston Baptist has a FB team).

Campbell 26
Ga Southern 27
Was another almost.

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/na...582221.htm

I wish there wasn't COVID-19 and we were playing all fall sports but that isn't the reality just like the fact that COVID-19 is 5 more times deadlier than the flu is a reality-now. So far the NBA, NHL and MLB have made it work although as we go into flu season we may see cases rises and more games cancelled. Ditto college football teams and the NFL, so far we are dealing with a small sample size. The other problem with college football is students returning on campus and this cases problems as there are more probable contacts with students who are not under the same restrictions.

(09-14-2020 05:14 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I wish there wasn't COVID-19 and we were playing all fall sports but that isn't the reality just like the fact that COVID-19 is 5 more times deadlier than the flu is a reality-now. So far the NBA, NHL and MLB have made it work although as we go into flu season we may see cases rises and more games cancelled. Ditto college football teams and the NFL, so far we are dealing with a small sample size. The other problem with college football is students returning on campus and this cases problems as there are more probable contacts with students who are not under the same restrictions.

i know im mister doom and gloom but honestly its a matter of time before a player dies of this thing at another school. and i hope his family sues the NCAA enough to make the dang organization fold.

Yes and realistically we may not have football safely until after fall 2021 depending on a vaccine and it's distribution.

(09-14-2020 06:59 AM)dansplaining Wrote:  

(09-14-2020 05:14 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I wish there wasn't COVID-19 and we were playing all fall sports but that isn't the reality just like the fact that COVID-19 is 5 more times deadlier than the flu is a reality-now. So far the NBA, NHL and MLB have made it work although as we go into flu season we may see cases rises and more games cancelled. Ditto college football teams and the NFL, so far we are dealing with a small sample size. The other problem with college football is students returning on campus and this cases problems as there are more probable contacts with students who are not under the same restrictions.

i know im mister doom and gloom but honestly its a matter of time before a player dies of this thing at another school. and i hope his family sues the NCAA enough to make the dang organization fold.

Last I looked FB was voluntary and players were able
to opt out. Seems that a number of players are actually protesting not being able to play.

(09-14-2020 08:17 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Yes and realistically we may not have football safely until after fall 2021 depending on a vaccine and it's distribution.

I'm going to make my arm chair guess about distribution:

I expect one or more vaccines to be approved during the fourth quarter, 2020.

Distribution begins first quarter, 2021.

Distribution, my GUESS, is based on two factors, risk category AND group memberships.

Risk category is pretty simple: Medical personnel, those in LTC facilities, prisons, school personnel, etc. as well as those who are say 60+ or have certain medical conditions.

Groups: I think most people realize that access to medical care is complex. In a number of organizations they have medical staff on site (e.g., Pentagon). EMU FB has access to the new St. Joes's facility of campus.

A 19 year old EMU FB player will have access to the Covid vaccine long before a 19 year old McDonalds worker can get it from his doctor or his 45 year old father who comes out to repair your HVAC.

If the EMU-St Joes' facility gets 1000 doses, do you not think C.C. will march his players there while the rest of the student body debates it, procrastinates, etc.??

The rational: It is not possible to social distance in FB (although I've seen some DBs who are pretty good at it. And then they social distance, sitting alone, on the bench).