I'm posting this in the OT thread because it's kind of political.

You see, a lot of college sports media people are conservative (Tim Brando, Rece Davis). And many college football fans are conservative (duh!) and would tend to see things the Trump-ian/Fox News way -- that this virus isn't really a big deal.

So here you have Kirk Herbstreit -- who is arguably the most respected college football media voice -- saying this and, well, there is gonna be some backlash.

The interesting thing about Herbstreit is that he lives in the South (Nashville), and I believe he's a conservative, too. I would be surprised if any rich white guy isn't.

But on the one hand, he's shown respect for Gov. Cuomo (while pleading ignorance as to his politics).

On the other hand, he's friends with Clay Travis, a fellow Nashville resident who has been a coronavirus truther. The medium post Herbstreit retweeted was soon pulled because of its misinformation.

I think it just reiterates the point that all conservatives are not a monolith, just like all liberals are not a monolith. Just because I'm liberal on a lot of things, does not mean I am a liberal on all things. I also thought Herbstreit did a pretty good job of providing a diplomatic response to Larry the Cable Guy's response. In my opinion, Larry is dead wrong and I find it hypocritical that he is the one calling out people for not following his narrative, but Herbstreit did a good job of rejecting that while not further inflaming the arguments.

Forgetting the politics, but would not football be delayed mostly?

If not, a whole lot of athletes are in trouble, and on the college side, just not football players.

Whatever his political leanings, Herbstreit has always seemed to me like a fair-minded and curious guy (one of the few national analysts who actually seemed to pay attention to the late-night Pac-12 games, for example). I think that would lead him to not falling for a lot of the bulls*** on multiple subjects, including coronavirus.

wifeisafurd said:

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Forgetting the politics, but would not football be delayed mostly?

If not, a whole lot of athletes are in trouble, and on the college side, just not football players.

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This is what veteran NFL reporter/columnist Mike Freeman wrote today:

This is what he tweeted on Wednesday:

okaydo said:

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This seems to me to be the key problem with starting any sports league on time. SOME areas of the country might be relatively safe by September, but the league has to be able to play everywhere. If virus is still hitting other parts of the country hard by then, how do you begin the season?

sycasey said:

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Whatever his political leanings, Herbstreit has always seemed to me like a fair-minded and curious guy (one of the few national analysts who actually seemed to pay attention to the late-night Pac-12 games, for example). I think that would lead him to not falling for a lot of the bulls*** on multiple subjects, including coronavirus.

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I have no idea his political leanings, but I presume he's more of a conservative leaner based on what he retweets.

The point I'm trying to make is that many college football fans are conservative and thus many of them take the conservative media's word that this isn't a big deal and/or that we could/should go back to normal soon.

So they are unable or unwilling to grasp how bad it is and how bad it's going to get. So this affecting the football season seems just too far-fetched.

Four months (when training camp should begin) isn't that long away.

Damn, no football in the Southland will mean even more shortages of ammo.

I think we will probably have a delayed, shortened NFL season with no preseason and limited fan participation. Same in college, short Fall camp and shorter season starting in late September. By that time we will have had herd immunity in the US.

The Spanish Flu "came back" with a more devastating second wave in the winter of 1918-19, but back then there was a lot less global mobility, so herd immunity didn't quite build up in the first wave.

golden sloth said:

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I think it just reiterates the point that all conservatives are not a monolith, just like all liberals are not a monolith. Just because I'm liberal on a lot of things, does not mean I am a liberal on all things. I also thought Herbstreit did a pretty good job of providing a diplomatic response to Larry the Cable Guy's response. In my opinion, Larry is dead wrong and I find it hypocritical that he is the one calling out people for not following his narrative, but Herbstreit did a good job of rejecting that while not further inflaming the arguments.

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why do you give a sh*t and rebroadcast his perspective.

I wish we could penalize a pandemic for targeting and offsides.

okaydo said:

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wifeisafurd said:

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Forgetting the politics, but would not football be delayed mostly?

If not, a whole lot of athletes are in trouble, and on the college side, just not football players.

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This is what veteran NFL reporter/columnist Mike Freeman wrote today:

This is what he tweeted on Wednesday:

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thanks. I can see delays. Some areas are in bad shape. One thing I have read is it likely that the virus does badly in summer weather. But even if things "normalize", you still need players in practice for some time before they are ready. Same for the college season, just can't see it starting on time realistically.

I think a shortened NFL season is very likely, but it's way too early to speculate with any confidence I think.

MLB's season is unlikely, unless they're willing to start in August.