WVU Release No spectators allowed for season opener

[Keenan Cummings]

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, in conjunction with University, local and state officials, has determined that football's season opener against Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 12 will take place without spectators at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Due to safety precautions from the COVID-19 pandemic, only essential game operations personnel and families of the players and football staff will be admitted. Expected capacity at Big 12 Conference home games, starting on Oct. 3 vs. Baylor, will be announced in the future and determined by local public health conditions at the time.

"We are disappointed that we will not be able to allow fans to attend the Sept. 12 home game, but we are working diligently to open our gates for Big 12 Conference play," Director of Athletics Shane Lyons said. "It is our goal to have fans at Milan Puskar Stadium this season, but right now, that is not possible for the EKU game.

"Our primary collective University focus right now is on the start of classes and the safe return of our students to our WVU Campuses. I am hopeful that all of us will be aggressive in taking appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of this virus so that all parties can be comfortable allowing a percentage of fans to attend on Oct. 3 and beyond. Until then, I ask for your understanding of the decisions that are being made and trust that we are doing everything we can to welcome Mountaineer Nation back to one of the best atmospheres in college football."

In the coming days, 2020 season ticket purchasers will be receiving information from the Mountaineer Athletic Club and the Mountaineer Ticket Office on options for allocating their season ticket investment for any remaining home games with spectators.

Football season ticket holders from 2019 will maintain ticket priority for 2021, regardless of their purchase status in 2020.

Broadcast and kickoff time for the Eastern Kentucky game will be announced at a later date.

 

[mountaineermaniac34]

Trying and will stay optimistic. If Notre Dame cx’s the season, useless NCAA and Emmert will put pressure on all conferences to postpone.

 

[WVUALLEN]

ND will not cancel unless ACC says no to playing. IMO

 

[deedoubleyou]

This is going to cover up the fact that they already lost half of the fan base by pandering to the far left lies.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

ND will not cancel unless ACC says no to playing. IMO

I think ACC is only hanging on because they want ND. They would cancel otherwise.

 

[3xWVUenginEER]

22 days away and they’re making that announcement. Hmm that’s not a good sign.

I don’t expect a season.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

22 days away and they’re making that announcement. Hmm that’s not a good sign.

I don’t expect a season.

I'm not going to judge them on any decision they make but the amount of yes..no...yes..yes...no, maybe...yes, no...I have seen during this pandemic has been outstanding. Sports, elementary schools, colleges, businesses and governments.

No one is able to make a decision, stick by it and live with it.

My kids schools change their plans, nearly daily...to the point parents cant keep up with current information, and some have unfortunately made important decisions based on dated announcements that were walked-back and not clearly addressed.

Its always the same excuse - we are waiting for guidance, which really means they are waiting and delaying until someone else makes the decision for them, usually an outside, non-local entity that will only make politically safe decision regardless of conditions in the specific communities.

 

[mountaineermaniac34]

I'm not going to judge them on any decision they make but the amount of yes..no...yes..yes...no, maybe...yes, no...I have seen during this pandemic has been outstanding. Sports, elementary schools, colleges, businesses and governments.

No one is able to make a decision, stick by it and live with it.

My kids schools change their plans, nearly daily...to the point parents cant keep up with current information, and some have unfortunately made important decisions based on dated announcements that were walked-back and not clearly addressed.

My God that is the truth for sure. Due to my profession, I was one of the first people to know by eavesdropping in a meeting with a governor discussing the plans on March 16th.

It was the most incoherent rambling I have ever heard in my entire life. People wanted to shut down for two weeks and thought that it would be fine in two weeks, changes were constantly coming up about school and everyone said by July this will all be behind us and will be able to move forward. Here we are in August and now we get flip-flop plans regarding athletics, school, and basic functionality of the world.

it’s almost like when a event is scheduled, people discuss what they want to do about two weeks before it was to begin, and then start deciding if it’s worth the risk, if there’s an actual risk that anyone is taking, or just wait until public pressure makes them say no.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

My God that is the truth for sure. Due to my profession, I was one of the first people to know by eavesdropping in a meeting with a governor discussing the plans on March 16th.

It was the most incoherent rambling I have ever heard in my entire life. People wanted to shut down for two weeks and thought that it would be fine in two weeks, changes were constantly coming up about school and everyone said by July this will all be behind us and will be able to move forward. Here we are in August and now we get flip-flop plans regarding athletics, school, and basic functionality of the world.

it’s almost like when a event is scheduled, people discuss what they want to do about two weeks before it was to begin, and then start deciding if it’s worth the risk, if there’s an actual risk that anyone is taking, or just wait until public pressure makes them say no.

We are a paralyzed society, and whenever someone tries to push forward and try to make something work, the media uses their angry mob to shut them down - which they do intentionally for a specific agenda.

A local amusement park opened which required a mask. The media came in and literally hunted down anyone not wearing a mask, including kids who just took it off when getting off rides or momentarily, and showcased their photos - of course the internet mob went crazy over it.

And unfortunately, governments have encouraged absurd behavior as the only means to be listened to...

 

[Darth_VadEER]

You cant shutdown society indefinitely...

You need a hell or high water point to cross.

Unfortunately, as many predicted, that point is the election.

 

[locustwv]

I like how the far left can go grocery shopping, go out to eat, go to doctor and dental appointments but when it comes to voting they are scared of the virus and want to mail their votes. It’s all so ridiculous!!!

 

[Darth_VadEER]

So Diversity Committee gets put in charge of WVU Athletic Department on Tuesday, and by Thursday they already bans fans from our stadium for the season opener?

 

[TownesVanZandt_rivals]

I disagree
.
I haven't really went through and looked at their reasoning.
I just feel that at the very least you could have 10K.
Very easy to socially distance. Be like a day at the park. You have enough room in these stadiums

 

[Darth_VadEER]

I disagree
.
I haven't really went through and looked at their reasoning.
I just feel that at the very least you could have 10K.
Very easy to socially distance. Be like a day at the park. You have enough room in these stadiums

Yeah 10K easily...I think 30K safely, with masks.

Tailgates are probably a bigger problem.

 

[SKYHAWKBALL]

So Diversity Committee gets put in charge of WVU Athletic Department on Tuesday, and by Thursday they already bans fans from our stadium for the season opener?

except for “family of the players and coaching staff”. I didn’t know family being there was considered “essential” as well. I’m pretty sure family members spread the Virus as well, but the university is scared shitless of the athletes now that they will kowtow to what they want. Will be interesting to see what on-field political shenanigans they do before the game.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

except for “family of the players and coaching staff”. I didn’t know family being there was considered “essential” as well. I’m pretty sure family members spread the Virus as well, but the university is scared shitless of the athletes now that they will kowtow to what they want. Will be interesting to see what on-field political shenanigans they do before the game.

Its so stupid...if it is about health, then have no one, I mean if you really care...which they dont. Because how many of those families live locally, or need to fly? Amirite?

And why do coaches family members receive special treatment? Do take your family to work?

 

[Darth_VadEER]

Another example of Shame Lyings letting the players run the program....


Guess who they will blame if there is an outbreak? The normal college kids actually paying for an education who to try to learn...watch, Shame Lyings is gonna weaponize the normal, tuition paying student and throw them under the bus for infecting one of his boss athletes.

 

[SKYHAWKBALL]

Its so stupid...if it is about health, then have no one, I mean if you really care...which they dont. Because how many of those families live locally, or need to fly? Amirite?

And why do coaches family members receive special treatment? Do take your family to work?

Most of the players have family who are from the “hot spots of Covid”. Will the families be getting temperature checked before going in and tested after the game as well? None of this is because they are worried about “health reasons”. If I was a student at WVU right now, I’d be requesting that my tuition be adjusted due to not having access to the games Because that is a built in charge.

and hell no family isn’t allowed at school/work. The hospital restrictions have been so strict that they were only allowing one parent to bring their child, while the other parent had to sit in the waiting area. And a few other offices won’t even allow adult Patients to have a guest with them.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

Most of the players have family who are from the “hot spots of Covid”. Will the families be getting temperature checked before going in and tested after the game as well? None of this is because they are worried about “health reasons”.

and hell no family isn’t allowed at school/work. The hospital restrictions have been so strict that they were only allowing one parent to bring their child, while the other parent had to sit in the waiting area. And a few other offices won’t even allow adult Patients to have a guest with them.

Shane in his video cited not having people come in from Baltimore and other areas...remind where our players are from?

 

[SKYHAWKBALL]

Shane in his video cited not having people come in from Baltimore and other areas...remind where our players are from?

PA, FL, TX, VA, OH, GA, and WV make up the majority,

 

[Darth_VadEER]

PA, FL, TX, VA, OH, GA, and WV make up the majority,

Shane said last week would have been the same answer....so wtf not announce it last week?

 

[SKYHAWKBALL]

Shane said last week would have been the same answer....so wtf not announce it last week?

too busy putting a racial equity committee together I believe and preparing that document the department has to provide by Sept 15 about the Vic/Martin ordeal To Mike Cassaza lol.

also not to mention using the regular, tuition-paying students as guinea pigs.

 

[Rootmaster]

Shane is weak...no backbone.

 

[TownesVanZandt_rivals]

Not a decision at the AD level

I don't think there is any AD in the country who made the decision without the advice from others

Should have been the Governor to come out and establish something.

But Lyons isn't sitting there deciding by himself if there are fans or not.

In life you don't have a backbone at times. Not a pissing contest. You take orders from above. If you want to be the boss pay the cost

 

[Rootmaster]

Tvz...speak for yourself spineless doofus.

 

[Rootmaster]

Maybe Shane figured with the leftward race of the university and need to placate the sjw types that no one would be at the big game against EKU anyway.