Athletic Department Moves Forward Toward Moving Target

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, conversations around NCAA athletics were national. Conferences and leaders were trying to help each other out, devise plans which would serve the common good.

Recently, those talks have become more and more internal, with others left to react to the news and consequences, namely the decisions by the Pac-12 and Big 10 to go to conference-only play in the fall.

For Colorado State, that meant the subtraction of the first two games on the football schedule, including Colorado's first visit to Fort Collins since 1996. Also gone was a trip to Oregon State the following week. Volleyball also lost the season opener, a highly anticipated visit by Southern California on Aug. 28. The Rams also lost a two-match series with Colorado and a home match with Oregon State; soccer lost a match with Colorado.

Colorado State Director of Athletics Joe Parker, who met virtually with the media on Monday, understands the change in approach, but he does believe communications lines could have remained open.

"I am disappointed in that. I understand it though, too," Parker said. "Everyone's TV partnerships are crafted at the conference level, so when you look at trying to preserve revenue from your broadcasting rights, that's why they're making these decisions right now. They just feel like they have more control and create the content for their partners if they're focused on conference schedules."

The part which didn't sit well with Parker is the narrative smaller schools will not conduct testing at the same level. Colorado State has tested 203 student-athletes, with just three positive results (none related to football). Parker noted the protocols in place worked, with contract tracing leading to the quarantine of some personnel, none of which exhibited symptoms.

In addition, three staff members have tested positive; staff is not intake tested, only if they show symptoms.

"Having dealt with some positive tests the past couple of weeks, it reinforces the value of our protocols in place, from testing, contact tracing and isolation," said Terry DeZeeuw, CSU's senior associate athletic director for sports performance. "Our prevention protocols are just as valuable."

As a Tier 1 research university, Parker has continually touted the efforts of the university's planning and testing, as well as the preventative and after-care procedures. He knows conference-only wasn't the only option for the Pac-12, thanking his counterpart at Colorado, Rick George, for pushing an alternative.

"I get the first part, more than the second, especially with CU. Rick was aware," Parker said. "He knew exactly what we were going to do, and we're matching everything they're planning to do, whether it be testing, who is in the bubble, who is not, controlled sidelines – all those pieces. That's why he was advocating for a conference plus-one model."

Now the talk is moving to not just how football will be played, but fall sports in general. Some smaller conferences have already postponed fall sports until the spring, and the Mountain West is engaged in those discussions weekly. As of now, Parker said no idea is off the table – including trying to play a full 12-game football season – though some are being addressed with more vigor.

A conference-only model or a postponement of fall athletics will have an impact on Colorado State's fan base, with the athletic department building a plan to reach out to ticket holders and how the two sides can determine how to modify season-ticket packages with the loss of games. Parker has been appreciative of the patience and understanding they've had through the process.

It is no secret athletic departments are going to experience financial hardships due to the pandemic, with the primary goal of putting student-athletes first remaining intact. The school has built a flexible ticket plan with customizable account options, with information to be sent to ticket holders soon, followed by personal outreach from the university.

"We need our fans. If this ultimately leads to the cancellation of fall sports, we need them to make decisions less transactional and more from the heart to help us bridge to the other side," Parker said. "The point of our plan is to get somebody on the phone and talk to them, instead of just sending them an email or going to a link. We want to have a conversation with them."

The conversations need to take place, as does the planning. Many of the topic items are addressed with no assurances the plans will ever see the light of day, but the action plans are needed, just the same. Colorado schools have collaborated with each other, including those from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, on testing and facility protocols. For now, Parker said the athletic department is looking at 50 percent capacity at Canvas Stadium, less than that inside Moby Arena, due to it being an indoor facility and the fan's proximity to the playing floor.

In this day and age, the challenge is to take aim at a target which is constantly moving. It would be great, Parker said, if they had a finish line, or even where it's located.

"It's been enjoyable to kind of open your mind and learn about things you haven't really ever dealt with, but as I told (volleyball coach) Tom Hilbert the other day, I'm ready for the lessons to end," Parker said. "I think I've learned enough. I'd rather start getting back to more normalized activities and finding our way forward. I look forward to the point and time when we can really gather in a place and not be so concerned about COVID-19."

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