As we've done with coaching searches, we will use this thread to update subscribers with what we are hearing regarding FSU and the ACC playing football this fall. This will be mostly be nuggets and anything newsworthy coming our way on this topic. But keep in mind it will probably be a few more weeks before anything definite happens on this topic.
NOTE: Please do not turn this thread into debates surrounding COVID-19. This is meant to be an informative thread for us to share what's happening with FSU and the ACC re. playing football. Posters are of course free to make comments and ask questions "within the context" of what we share and FSU playing football this fall. We've relaxed our normal sports-only rule in other threads on this forum so please continue your COVID-19 debates there. Thanks.
--------------------------
May 18 @ 3:45 p.m.
We have heard from multiple off the record sources that scholarship players are being told to prepare to report to campus soon. This could be as soon as June 1, with workouts starting up as early as June 15. However, all of this is dependent on the NCAA giving approval for student-athletes to return to campus. Reportedly, a meeting will take place this week to decide if schools will be given the go-ahead to proceed with summer workouts.
I've been told that various precautions will be in place before workouts will be allowed to resume including a quarantining period. Don't have details on all these precautions but I suspect they'll be numerous and will probably include testing, and limitations on the number of players that take part in workouts together.
As soon as we hear more details we will pass then along.
----------------
May 13 @ 6 p.m.
As you probably know by now, California's state university system announced that classes for the fall semester will be online due to coronavirus. Keep in mind this does not include the Pac-12 schools. Whether the California system that oversees those schools will follow suit remains to be seen.
With the recent announcement from California, I've heard from a couple sources that this situation was discussed among the decision-makers in the SEC. We were told it will have zero impact on that conference, that they are planning to have students on campus in the fall and a football season. I have heard that some schools, like Alabama which has an opener scheduled vs. USC in Texas, are already looking into alternatives to fill slots on the schedule if non-conference teams are unable to play.
In terms of the ACC and Florida State, we are still in a holding pattern. The primary reason why you aren't hearing much from FSU or other state universities is that it the final decision will come from the state Governors' office. We've been informed that the state wants a unified announcement from the in-state schools. As such, university leaders have been informed by the Governor to not comment or speculate on the status of fall classes, which relates directly to sports being played, until this final decision is made.
Everything we hear is that it's very likely that at least some percentage of students will have FTF classes this fall, and that sports are likely to resume in some capacity. But details of how all that will play out is unknown at this time. And it could be another month or longer until we know for sure.
----------------------
May 8 @ 1 a.m.
During conversations with a couple of sources close to the FSU football program, we've been told that some players are planning to return to Tallahassee in the next couple of weeks. It's not clear exactly how many, but if that happens, it will be voluntary on their part. And it's not clear yet whether they would have access to any of the school's facilities.
As we wrote last week, there is a group of players still in town working out on their own. But even if more players come back into town, they likely won't be able to work out together as long as the state is discouraging groups of 10 or more people from congregating.
The fact that some players are planning to return, however, is a sign that the program could be coming back together in the coming weeks. And if you read the story we just posted from Mike Norvell's video chat with Boosters, Rob Wilson hinted a couple of times that FSU's coaches could be returning to campus soon as well. Doesn't sound like there's anything final on that yet, but things seem to be trending in that direction.
While none of this guarantees that the football season will start on time or be played at all, there does seem to be positive momentum for the time being.
--------------------------
May 7 @ 9 a.m.
A couple interesting stories today that are relevant to Florida State.
More than half of ACC football schools aim to reopen in fall
So far, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, N.C. State, Virginia and Virginia Tech have all publicly stated the goal of having campuses open for fall classes, assuming that health officials advise it is safe to do so.
Four other ACC schools - Duke, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Wake Forest - say they are examining multiple scenarios for a potential return in the fall.
Boston College and Florida State haven't specifically addressed plans for reopening campus this fall.
And from the BIG12
Big 12 schools intend to open in fall, giving football hope'
-------
May 6 @ 4 p.m.
Yesterday we ran our latest Crisis management feature discussing different scenarios if certain teams or conferences opt out of playing football this fall. Interestingly, it looks like one of the scenarios we discussed is going to happen.
There was recently a discussion or some type of teleconference among several ACC Athletic Directors. Not surprisingly, most made it clear that they are in a holding pattern when it comes to making a decision on a fall football season. Some are more optimistic than others but we were told that at least one northern school does not expect to field a football team this fall. If it's the team I think it is, that's one less road game FSU will have this fall. Keep in mind that this is not final and the school could reverse course depending on how things play out. But it sure sounds like at least one ACC school will not be playing football this fall.
NOTE: Please do not turn this thread into debates surrounding COVID-19. This is meant to be an informative thread for us to share what's happening with FSU and the ACC re. playing football. Posters are of course free to make comments and ask questions "within the context" of what we share and FSU playing football this fall. We've relaxed our normal sports-only rule in other threads on this forum so please continue your COVID-19 debates there. Thanks.
--------------------------
May 18 @ 3:45 p.m.
We have heard from multiple off the record sources that scholarship players are being told to prepare to report to campus soon. This could be as soon as June 1, with workouts starting up as early as June 15. However, all of this is dependent on the NCAA giving approval for student-athletes to return to campus. Reportedly, a meeting will take place this week to decide if schools will be given the go-ahead to proceed with summer workouts.
I've been told that various precautions will be in place before workouts will be allowed to resume including a quarantining period. Don't have details on all these precautions but I suspect they'll be numerous and will probably include testing, and limitations on the number of players that take part in workouts together.
As soon as we hear more details we will pass then along.
----------------
May 13 @ 6 p.m.
As you probably know by now, California's state university system announced that classes for the fall semester will be online due to coronavirus. Keep in mind this does not include the Pac-12 schools. Whether the California system that oversees those schools will follow suit remains to be seen.
With the recent announcement from California, I've heard from a couple sources that this situation was discussed among the decision-makers in the SEC. We were told it will have zero impact on that conference, that they are planning to have students on campus in the fall and a football season. I have heard that some schools, like Alabama which has an opener scheduled vs. USC in Texas, are already looking into alternatives to fill slots on the schedule if non-conference teams are unable to play.
In terms of the ACC and Florida State, we are still in a holding pattern. The primary reason why you aren't hearing much from FSU or other state universities is that it the final decision will come from the state Governors' office. We've been informed that the state wants a unified announcement from the in-state schools. As such, university leaders have been informed by the Governor to not comment or speculate on the status of fall classes, which relates directly to sports being played, until this final decision is made.
Everything we hear is that it's very likely that at least some percentage of students will have FTF classes this fall, and that sports are likely to resume in some capacity. But details of how all that will play out is unknown at this time. And it could be another month or longer until we know for sure.
----------------------
May 8 @ 1 a.m.
During conversations with a couple of sources close to the FSU football program, we've been told that some players are planning to return to Tallahassee in the next couple of weeks. It's not clear exactly how many, but if that happens, it will be voluntary on their part. And it's not clear yet whether they would have access to any of the school's facilities.
As we wrote last week, there is a group of players still in town working out on their own. But even if more players come back into town, they likely won't be able to work out together as long as the state is discouraging groups of 10 or more people from congregating.
The fact that some players are planning to return, however, is a sign that the program could be coming back together in the coming weeks. And if you read the story we just posted from Mike Norvell's video chat with Boosters, Rob Wilson hinted a couple of times that FSU's coaches could be returning to campus soon as well. Doesn't sound like there's anything final on that yet, but things seem to be trending in that direction.
While none of this guarantees that the football season will start on time or be played at all, there does seem to be positive momentum for the time being.
--------------------------
May 7 @ 9 a.m.
A couple interesting stories today that are relevant to Florida State.
More than half of ACC football schools aim to reopen in fall
So far, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, N.C. State, Virginia and Virginia Tech have all publicly stated the goal of having campuses open for fall classes, assuming that health officials advise it is safe to do so.
Four other ACC schools - Duke, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Wake Forest - say they are examining multiple scenarios for a potential return in the fall.
Boston College and Florida State haven't specifically addressed plans for reopening campus this fall.
And from the BIG12
Big 12 schools intend to open in fall, giving football hope'
-------
May 6 @ 4 p.m.
Yesterday we ran our latest Crisis management feature discussing different scenarios if certain teams or conferences opt out of playing football this fall. Interestingly, it looks like one of the scenarios we discussed is going to happen.
There was recently a discussion or some type of teleconference among several ACC Athletic Directors. Not surprisingly, most made it clear that they are in a holding pattern when it comes to making a decision on a fall football season. Some are more optimistic than others but we were told that at least one northern school does not expect to field a football team this fall. If it's the team I think it is, that's one less road game FSU will have this fall. Keep in mind that this is not final and the school could reverse course depending on how things play out. But it sure sounds like at least one ACC school will not be playing football this fall.
Last edited:
