Pac-12 Media Day: Developing COVID-19 policies, forfeitures being considered

Commissioner Kliavkoff says he's strongly considering a return to normal policies in regards to failures to meet roster requirements

(Photo Courtesy of John McGillen/Pac-12)

The coronavirus turned the 2020 season into a wild, shortened ride, and it could impact the 2021 campaign as well.

COVID-19 case numbers are up nationwide and the virus continues to cause cancelations, delays and complications in the MLB, Olympics, College World Series and elsewhere. Unlike the NFL and other organizations, the Pac-12 has yet to define its health and safety protocols for its upcoming football season.

Senior Associate Commissioner of Football Operations Merton Hanks said at Pac-12 Football Media Day that it is a complicated process, but that the details should be hashed out and publicized by mid-August.

"We certainly have to take the temperature of the country into account as we formulate these policies," Hanks said. "Obviously we don't want to be in a position where we have to switch streams, so to speak, mid-season. I don't think anybody wants that in any sport."

One of the options commissioner George Kliavkoff is considering, he said Tuesday, is possible forfeitures for teams who do not have enough players to take the field.

"As I mentioned previously in the press, we're leaning towards going back to the pre-COVID policy of forfeits if you can't field a team," Kliavkoff said. "But we've not made that final decision yet."

How COVID-19 vaccines will play into those possible cancelations remains up in the air.

All UCLA students – along with students at California, Stanford, USC, Colorado, Washington, Washington State, Oregon and Oregon State – will be required to take the vaccine prior to arriving on campus on the fall. That mandate extends to the Bruins' student-athletes, including quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and safety Qwuantrezz Knight, who both spoke at media day Tuesday.

Thompson-Robinson talked at length about the importance of veteran leadership heading into the 2021 season, a trait he said he is trying to extend into the realm of COVID-19 awareness and vaccine education in the locker room.

"We're behind what everybody stands for, we're not going to push anybody either way, but at the end of the day, like I said, the main thing is the main thing, which is to play football," Thompson-Robinson said. "Whatever you gotta do to do that, I advise everybody to do that."

One Pac-12 figure confirmed not have received the COVID-19 vaccine is Washington State coach Nick Rolovich, who joined media day via video since vaccines were required by the conference for all in-person team personnel.

Rolovich announced his intentions to skip media day last week, telling the world – and his players – that he was not vaccinated.

"I think (the players) respect my statement," Rolovich said. "Again, going back to the leadership committee, what this locker room is about, was there a fear of distraction? Yeah. But I think this team has really stayed focused on the goal at hand."

The Cougars might not be able to fully focus on football should Rolovich contract the virus at any point this fall, considering it could cost them wins, practice time or even bowl eligibility. Rolovich said his decision not to get vaccinated is an ongoing thought process, leaving the door open for him to get shots in the near future should he change his mind.

College football was not designed to be played in the midst of a pandemic, and it took a lot of hard work and improvising to put on a season in 2020.

With vaccines and more widely-available testing, it may not be as Herculean of a task this time around, but it is still far from the old normal.

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