Mountain West presidents have agreed on a football season beginning Oct. 24. League presidents originally decided on Aug. 5 to postpone the season into the spring. Boise State’s football team returned to a full team practice Saturday, Sept. 26 for the first time since Aug. 10.
The team is scheduled to practice 23 times over the next 28 days before their Oct. 24, season opener. No schedule has been released for the Mountain West, but league presidents have agreed on an eight game regular season ending with a Dec.19 championship game.
“We are excited to play,” said Head Coach Bryan Harsin. “I think our guys have been doing a great job of staying focused and trying to win the wait while this decision was being made. Everybody on the team is excited about there being some clarity in what we are doing.”
The decision to hold a season came hours after the Pac-12 decided to play a seven game season of their own. A day later the Mid-American Conference announced that it would also be playing in the fall. All 10 Football Bowl Subdivisions (FBS) will play this fall. There is still speculation as to if schools in California will play as local and state officials have put regulations in place restricting team activity.
Boise State Athletic Director Curt Apsey released a statement after the announcement that Boise State would be playing this fall.
“I am thrilled for our student-athletes and coaches to be able to compete this fall. There has been a lot of great work done by a number of people in order to pull this together, and I am incredibly appreciative of their efforts,” Apsey said.
An eight game schedule will allow Mountain West teams to be considered for New Year six bowl games. League officials are still trying to piece together a game schedule and tentative plans if a team cannot play due to COVID-19 concerns.
Who Boise State will play, and when is still to be determined. Mountain West commissioner Craig Thomson addressed the media after the league’s vote to play.
“Right now, the Army and Navy and Air Force will be out of conference. There is the potential that Boise State-BYU’s previously scheduled game could be played,” Thompson said. “Other than that, it will be all in the conference. Everyone is scheduled to play a maximum of eight games, with the exception of Air Force.”
Boise State will follow health restrictions established by the Central District Health. Currently, all athletic venuses are closed to the public under Central District Health guidelines.
If fans were to be allowed into Albertsons Stadium, Boise State will explore single-game and season long ticket opportunities. Current season ticket holders will have first priority if fans are permitted in the stadium.
Boise State President Marlene Tromp expressed her excitement in a statement after the conference came to an agreement.
“I’m so excited that our coaches and student-athletes are going to get to do this fall what they do best — compete and win. It’s time to let the Broncos out of the corral,” Tromp said.
This Post Has One Comment
Pingback: Samples – Brad Verbout