Doctor on campus reopening task force makes prediction for fans in Neyland Stadium this fall
If you're hoping to see the Tennessee Vols play in person at Neyland Stadium this fall, you might be out of luck. Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital pediatrician-in-chief Dr. Jon McCullers, who was recently put in charge of a task force by UT president Randy Boyd that looks at reopening campuses, made a dire prediction this week concerning […]
If you're hoping to see the Tennessee Vols play in person at Neyland Stadium this fall, you might be out of luck.
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital pediatrician-in-chief Dr. Jon McCullers, who was recently put in charge of a task force by UT president Randy Boyd that looks at reopening campuses, made a dire prediction this week concerning fans in stadiums.
"You’re not going to have spectators in Neyland Stadium this year", said McCullers on 92.9 ESPN in Memphis.
McCullers added "The question is do we play football without spectators? I’m being told that’s going to be a conference decision and that the university presidents are going to abide by what the conference decides."
Last month, McCuller's said in an interview on the same radio station that he believed it would be two years before things are back to normal.
"I think we’re going to have some sort of adaptation of sports without fans that’s going to become workable probably in 6-9 months. It’s not going to be what we’re used to. It’s going to be some hybrid that’s going to tide us through. I think we’ll be back to normal in two years."
I know this isn't what sports fans — especially college football fans — want to hear, but unfortunately it's just our reality right now.
We still have a few months until college football is scheduled to get underway, so maybe things change for the better. But if that's going to be the case, it better happen fast. Players probably need to be on campus by July 1, to get a month of weight training under their belts, before starting camp on August 1, to be ready by the first of September for game action.
Featured image via Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
