College Football
The head of one of the biggest universities in the country hasn’t changed his opinion on college football in the Fall. Doctor Mark Schlissel, the President of the University of Michigan, doesn’t think there will be college football. Speaking with the Wall Street Journal, Schlissel, an immunologist, said there won’t be Wolverine football if there is no on-campus instruction in Ann Arbor in the fall. He also expressed doubt there will be college athletics anywhere in the first semester of the school year. Schlissel said a decision on whether students would return to the school for in-person education would be made in the coming weeks.
NFL
The NFL’s Executive Vice President of Football Operations is optimistic there will be stadiums packed with fans when the season begins. Troy Vincent said over the weekend that the league is currently planning to have no limits on attendance unless told otherwise by the medical community.
Vincent said he was hopeful that a lot of progress would be made in treatment or vaccines between now and the start of the preseason in August. Vincent added that if health officials advise against fans in the stands, the league will not push back, and the NFL is developing contingency plans for limited capacity games.
NBA
The NBA confirms it is discussing with the Walt Disney Company about resuming the season in a one-site location in late July at the Orlando-area Disney properties. The Players Association is also involved in the talks. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the talks are still “exploratory,” but would include housing players with sites for games without fans and practices.
NHL
The National Hockey League Players’ Association executive board voted to approve a 24-team playoff format to restart the season. But what is next? There are still major hurdles to be addressed before returning to the ice. That includes how players will be tested for COVID-19 and where games will be played. The Nashville Predators will be included in the Stanley Cup playoffs it the season resumes.