Clubhouse Chatter: Time to move the college football schedule?

What our Sports staff has to say while waiting for the games to resume.

I'm torn on pushing back the start of college football. One on hand there seems to be enough open dates at the end of the season, and an off week thrown in, where the schedule could be accommodated. On the other hand, these are student-athletes, and to play a compacted or more lengthy schedule may not be in their best interests - though they may favor it.

- Dave Oberhelman

There no reason to push it back yet, and if they have to push it back later, that means we're still shut down and that is a frightening thought.

- Barry Rozner

I don't think we're at the point where we have to push back the college football season but plans need to be made for either having games in stadiums with no fans or severely curtailing the number of fans. That's a given, regardless of what COVID-19 statistics look like the next couple months.

- Kevin Schmit

I really hope we have this crisis under control by the fall, so that life is pretty much back to normal. But it might not be a bad idea to provide a little bit of cushion here and start a month later than usual. College athletic departments can't afford to lose football.

- Patricia Babcock McGraw

Too early to call this one now. I believe the NCCA would be best off if it played a waiting game on this one. It might have a much clearer picture in late June, early July. Why rush it in these times of uncertainty?

- John Leusch

It seems unlikely this country will have the ability to test, trace and isolate at levels necessary for 107,601 Michigan fans to gather in the Big House this fall. Instead of pushing the season back, I'd start by lopping off the first few weeks of mostly meaningless nonconference games.

- Jerry Fitzpatrick

Nope, too early. There's been too much looking way down the road in sports and every other facet of society. I'd make decisions in two-week increments and stay on that course.

- Scot Gregor