SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- The COVID-19 pandemic has left a big question mark in regards to NCAA athletics. However, that is not the case with California Junior Colleges, otherwise known as the CCCAA, as they have already come up with a plan for the fall. That means for the next 5 months, athletic fields at Mesa College will be quiet until early 2021.
"There was a lot of talk," says Mesa College Athletic Director Ryan Schumaker, "and a lot of plans, that included getting sports back on the field quicker. But it just didn't seem feasible, especially when we saw the state start to take steps backwards. It just seemed like the right thing to do, to push it back as far as we could."
So in the case of Mesa College, all 21 of their athletic teams will not get started until some point in the spring.
"The goal is to get our student athletes on campus safely, as well as our staff," says Mesa College Head Football Coach Gary Watkins. "I know we won't start practice until February, but there may be some time in January to get in front of the boys. At that time, will get them acclimated physically and mentally. Now, more than ever, they have to be all in on their academics, and their future development."
And with will all sports being pushed back until the spring, the athletic department at Mesa will have to figure out how to share the facilities.
"The spring is now split into two distinct seasons. We don't have all the answers yet, but we are working diligently to make sure all of our sports are taken care of for practice time and we also leave time for general population classes."
