Syracuse Football: Makes sense for NY to revisit ban on fans before term

As Syracuse football holds its walkthrough practices, New York officials say they will reexamine their ban on fans prior to the season commencing.

Syracuse football received the news earlier this week that Gov. Andrew Cuomo wouldn’t allow fans to watch games in-person for fall sports at colleges and universities throughout the state of New York.

Assuming the Orange’s 2020 campaign does transpire amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Syracuse football will first do battle by traveling to fellow Atlantic Coast Conference foe Boston College on Sept. 4.

And now New York government officials, in a sensible move, have said that they will revisit their ban on fans at live sporting events and make a final determination prior to the Orange’s football season starting inside a freshly renovated Carrier Dome, per an article from Mark Weiner of Syracuse.com.

Given the rising number of Covid-19 cases in many states around the country, it’s extremely likely that Cuomo’s ban on fans at college and professional sports contests will remain in place.

However, it’s also prudent for Cuomo and his political colleagues to see how things play out with the pandemic over the next few weeks before making any final calls about in-person attendance.

After Cuomo made his initial decision about not having fans in the stands, Syracuse University Director of Athletics John Wildhack released a statement that said he would “seek further clarification regarding the opportunity to have fans at our games and move forward appropriately under the guidance of the state.”

About 85 Syracuse football players have returned to the Hill for summer work-outs, we reported earlier this month. According to various media reports, the ‘Cuse on Thursday was slated to begin its six-week, pre-season training schedule by having its inaugural walkthrough practice.

These walkthroughs enable Syracuse football coaches to directly work with players on the field, but without any contact. Padded practices are scheduled to commence on Aug. 6 under a pre-season plan approved by the NCAA in mid-June.

Atlantic Coast Conference officials expect to provide further details about the 2020 football stanza, and other fall sports, by the end of July.

Wildhack and his team, meanwhile, have already said that they’re planning for reduced attendance at the Dome for football encounters this fall.

The Syracuse basketball squad, by the way, also began holding practices on the ‘Cuse campus at the beginning of this week.