When Mike Leach looked for enthusiasts on Saturday he saw cardstock, leave the Pirate what it’s like to play school soccer in empty or nearly empty stadiums in 2020.
“The atmosphere that’s fun for me is the cut-out people,” Leach told CBS Sports after Saturday’s 44-34 outburburrd opposite LSU. “Isn’t that “Twilight Zone” and “Outer Limits”?”
Not entirely science fiction, somewhat dystopian cardboard photographs of enthusiasts and small crowds of COVID-19 have almost become a routine. At LSU last week, enthusiasts were able to purchase a cup of themselves to place them in the stands where they were watching 82,000 empty seats. The cost?50 bucks.
They blended well with a small crowd of 21,124 who saw the wrath of Mississippi State at Tiger Stadium (total capacity: 102,321). They also got the attention of the Bulldogs coach, who is known for his lack of concentration.
“I was looking to locate cuts in the crowd that seemed smart or interesting, unless they didn’t move,” Leach said. “They were frozen.
It’s a look at what it will be like to play this season amid COVID-19 restrictions (capacity varies according to local fitness guidelines). The gaming environment has declined. Groups may not be allowed. When Big Ten and then Pac-12 return later this fall, they will do so without fanatics.
“It’s ideal, ” said West Virginia coach Neal Brown. “It’s just weird. It’s just different. “
The merit of the house box has been replaced, at least reduced, with certainty in 2020. Four weeks after the start of the season, the house groups won 59. 5% of their games (47-32). If this number continues, it would mark the worst percentage of home group victories since 2005 (59. 3%).
Ironically, the following year (2004) he earned the all-time winning house score (65. 3%), according to the NCAA, which has maintained statistics since 1966. In fact, the merit of the house box has taken a step forward in this century with more sensitive 10 of all time since 2000.
2004
0,6530
2019
0,6526
2011
0,6440
2018
0,6390
2009
0,6361
2002
0,6355
2008
0,6301
2016
0. 6299
2000
0,6280
2007
0,6260
In 2016, Omaha World-Herald called the merit of the football draw “the greatest myth in school football. “The newspaper concluded that the 2014-15 seasons were the most balanced in the last 20 years. Power Five won 50. 8% of its home games.
Two of the 4 largest boxes in the house have happened in the more than two years. In 2018, the house groups won 63. 9% of the games (4th of all time). In 2019, the house groups won 65. 2% of the games, the time of all time in 2004 up to Array00038821 up to a percentage point.
The NCAA does not count unbiased games in this calculation.
1967
0,5570
1975
. 5630
1995
. 5760
1978
0,5780
1971
. 5810
1980
. 5889
1994
0,5883
1970
. 5900
1981
. 5910
2020
. 5949 (until week 4)
Whatever happens this season, the fundamental picture of school football has been remade. In Week 1, Arkansas State won at Kansas State despite a lack of 20 players, adding nine headlines mainly due to COVID-19. and beat then Oklahoma No. 3 on the road without at least 3 starters in any aspect of the ball with their own COVID-19 concerns. It is the component of a 12-team away win on Saturday.
Given the scarcity of easy-to-load house games without a convention this season, this merit on the field would possibly diminish. Example: The ACC and SEC play a record 10 regular-season convention games.
“Playing social football from a distance is hard to do,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “With the COVID tests happening, who’s on your team week after week can be dramatic. All those things [contribute] to a wild and unexplored season. “
Both quarterbacks K. J. Costello (Mississippi state quarterback) and Leach (as head coach) prospered by visiting Death Valley for the first time.
“It was stronger than you think between enthusiasts and the AP,” Leach says. “It was strong. You needed the silent count. It wasn’t just a matter of shouting: “Hey, KJ, send the message. “maybe I can do it. “
Some other people think it’s the bright side.
“There are some offensive benefits to those things that you have just from this year’s cases. Array . . . Just with adjustments in play, it’s a little less difficult this year not to have to deal with crowds. big on the road, ”Florida coach Dan Mullen told me.
In Missouri, the campus nearly emptinessed on Saturday before the opening of the season opposite No. 2 from Alabama. The number of “No Tailgating” symptoms shown on campus far exceeded that of the Michelob Ultras.
At least five Mizzou academics were initially expelled for coronavirus violations. Three days earlier, the state had noted its number of deaths from COVID-19 in a day without marrying, 87. A crowd of 11,700, less than 20% of Faurot. Field’s ability: Saw Crimson Tide defeat the Tigers, 38-19.
“I have to admit it was different, ” said Saban. ” . . . This year, [it’s], ‘What’s your DNA as a competitor?’Because you can’t rely on external points like crowd and noise and enthusiasts and band. and the things that can appeal to your emotion. You can’t count on that. “
Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium is one of the loudest sports venues in the world and its capacity for an additional 101,821 people will be reduced to 20% from that of this week’s opening game against the 13th Texas A.
The COVID-19 is what can cut the sound of mythical activities on the day of school play. There won’t be a roll suck. The Million Dollar Band (made up of 400 members) will be limited to 96, in a location that attracted more than 92,000 members for a spring football game.
When Big Ten begins on October 24, Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith warned that powerful Buckeyes can fly on game day or catch a bus for some contests.
The state of Kansas did so just this Saturday, using six buses to do five hours from Manhattan, Kansas, to reduce possible contact with COVID-19. The Wildcats were greeted by a crowd of 22,700 at gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, which was 86,000 seats away.
“It was noisy,” K-State coach Chris Klieman said. We had to use silent recounts, evidently not as strong as it deserves, it can be and what school football is. This will be the problem for everyone, and that every home team doesn’t have its stadium full of its enthusiasts. “
All this contributed to a kind of “studio football” effect. Games look more like a scene than an event. Broadcasters play remote games. The post-match delight, when the media comes down from the press gallery to meet coaches and players, is over. All interviews are controlled by Zoom.
Do you want to communicate about the atmosphere? Look at those cardboard cutouts.
Only 976 enthusiasts were able to see west Virginia’s season-opening eruption in eastern Kentucky on September 12. It took a while to get used to.
“I don’t think the festival in the box is any different,” Brown said. “I don’t think the boys compete any less hard. The atmosphere is not here. Some of the things that make school football wonderful: bands, smell. “heel, the hobby of enthusiasts — [are diminished]. “
CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner. com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc.
Getty images and US Presswire imagesBut it’s not the first time