On Aug. 11, the Pac-12 postponed football due to the coronavirus. That day, the U.S. recorded 53,357 new COVID-19 cases. A month later, the Pac-12 CEO group reversed the postponement and scheduled opening day for Nov. 6. That day, the U.S. recorded 45,505 cases. Between the two votes, 38,000 Americans died of the disease.
This weekend, the Utah Utes will kick off their season at Rice-Eccles Stadium. While no fans will attend the game, one has to note that the coronavirus endangers everyone, even the athletes on the gridiron.
Per Dr. Eugene Chung, chair of the American College of Cardiology’s Sports and Exercise Council, COVID-19 can cause an irregular heartbeat, or even lead to myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, which caused Major League Baseball pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to miss the entire MLB season. Furthermore, myocarditis can cause sudden cardiac death during exercise.
In addition to cardiac conditions, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found that a third of all young adults may face severe COVID-19 due to medical vulnerability. With many linemen suffering from obesity and the dispersion of e-cigarettes on college campuses, these risk factors cannot be discounted only because the players are college athletes.
These concerns could be alleviated if the NCAA had shown a capability to control the virus and protect players from contracting it. Unfortunately, the opposite has proved true. Since the college football season started, 37 games have been canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus.
The Pac-12 stated that it will implement rigorous testing protocols, with weekly PCR tests and daily antigen testing, as well as cardiac monitoring for players who test positive. However, with high-profile players, such as Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, testing positive, it seems that even the most stringent measures are failing.
Not only is the Pac-12 putting players at risk, but it also is putting players' dreams and health on the line for a $66 million payout from the College Football Playoff.
To be sure, the NCAA has given players the opportunity to opt out of the season but, which player would want to jeopardize a potential NFL career because of some virus? When it comes down to it, players want to play. Thus, in addition to current precautions, it would seem intuitive to initiate coronavirus education programs specifically tailored to college athletes.
Making it even more confusing that the Pac-12 season is starting while the U.S. is in the midst of a massive coronavirus wave, is the fact that the virus has had major effects on other NCAA conferences. On Oct. 30, the country tallied a record 99,000 cases and, with growing “virus fatigue,” numbers will exponentially increase.
Just this week, the University of Wisconsin reported 22 new cases of coronavirus in its football department, reinforcing the NCAA’s failure to keep players safe.
Now, with the U on the hill finally ready to douse the hillside in red again, it seems inconceivable that the Pac-12 has decided to march forward with its season. From evidence showing that successful athletes can suffer from long-term coronavirus conditions, to the postponements and cancellations of games, it has to be concluded that players are not safe.
Thus, as the U.S. faces a massive coronavirus wave, the Pac-12 has erred in bringing back football, as much as it may represent a needed getaway for fans.
Nico Edgar
Nico Edgar, Salt Lake City, is a third-year biology major at the University of Utah.