Miami AD Blake James says many scenarios for football season starting on time

The impact of the COVID-19/Coronavirus has created an unprecedented event in American sports history. Miami Athletic Director Blake James expects the college football season to begin on time but that multiple scenarios are in play.

In an interview with the Miami Herald posted on Sunday Miami athletic director Blake James told reporter, Susan Miller Degnan, he expects the college football season to begin on time but with scenarios constantly shifting that could change at any moment. James acknowledged that “normal changes every day.”

The cancellation of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments did not impact Miami as much as the cancellation of all spring sports. The Miami baseball team was off to a 12-4 start and ranked inside the top 10 in multiple polls. The Hurricanes were poised to make a run to make the College World Series.

The bigger question on the mind of most Miami Hurricanes fans at this point is will football start on time. The expectation is that it will, but Blake James told Miller Degnan that he does expect that there will be an issue with the season starting  in his words if “They’re able to have a full fall camp or majority of camp.”

Blake James does not expect the coronavirus pandemic that has caused the hibernation of all sports to have an impact on any of the fall sports. For Miami that impacts Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, football and women’s soccer and volleyball.

"“Obviously, I’ve never been through anything like this…There are a lot of moving parts. The current normal changes every day.’…It’s too early to say anything about that.It’s a situation where football [fall camp] doesn’t start until August and assuming they’re able to have a full fall camp or majority of camp, I don’t think there will be any impact on the schedule — for any of our fall sports. “But what if? What if?’’It’s something everyone is thinking about. he said.It’s one we have to be thinking about. We’re looking at all possible scenarios and how they will play out and what that will mean for our programs and students."

The NCAA has not gone into specifics what their plans are for the football season. Losing the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament is obviously a huge loss and one that will impact every sport throughout all of the NCAA member institutions in Divisions I-III. ESPN reported in 2018 the NCAA Tournament is 75 percent of yearly revenue.

"“I haven’t had those calls in specifics with the NCAA yet. Those are big picture calls. Obviously there’s a significance to the NCAA with cancellation of the men’s basketball tournament.I don’t think it’s a secret to anyone that it’s one of the most significant revenue providers for the [NCAA] and to not have that happen this year will have a significant impact on the amount of revenue that will be able to be distributed to not only Division I but Division II and III…I’m sure it’s close to a billion dollars.’"

As James stated earlier the evaluations of how sports will be impacted is still ongoing. The NCAA has various scenarios being evaluated and attempting to put a plan in place to be ready for what comes next. James reiterated what governments across the world have told their constituents what to do to eradicate the virus.

"“Everything is being evaluated and obviously we’re looking at a variety of scenarios and doing what we can do to plan for whatever comes next. We’re hoping everyone not only in our community but across the country listens to the advice and direction of our government and takes the steps that are necessary to end this virus as soon as possible.”"

The impact financially is likely to be felt in sports beyond the NCAA Tournament. With the economy suffering, James stated he understandably expected donations to go down and that any ticket refunds request would be granted. The season ticket sales for Miami were up after D’Eriq King announced his transfer from Houston.

Across the board, the College Football attendance was down for the sixth straight season. The 2019 season was the lowest attendance for college football since 1996. With the loss of income being felt globally expect the attendance dip to continue. For now, all James and the Miami athletic department can do is wait.