WACO, TX — It's game week for Baylor Football, and while there is a lot of excitement for Saturday’s game hosting Louisiana Tech, there is a lot of uncertainty with outbreaks spreading in universities and sports teams across the country.
TCU was the first Big 12 team to postpone a game due to COVID-19. With a team 80 miles up the road having to call off their first game, it was a reminder how quickly things could change.
“There’s been reminders really throughout the summertime of just, nationwide, the different teams and their struggles," said Baylor Football Head Coach Dave Aranda. "And we just try to always be learning and growing that way, but you get to a point to where masks are supposed to be up and maybe the masks are down.. Put your mask on. Keep them on. Or the socially distance on the sidelines, "Hey, make sure we are six feet apart."”
Baylor Athletics announced they had seven new COVID-19 cases on Monday, but the total number of active cases dropped from 12 to 10 this week.
In the first weekly press conference of the season, Coach Aranda says they have been continually stressing to the team the importance of following the safety guidelines.
“We’re just not in the position to relax, and so we will continue to express the importance of doing things right, and just the accountability that comes in the time we’re in couldn’t be higher,” he said.
Baylor Athletics set an attendance limit to 25% capacity with no tailgating and required mask-usage, social distant seating arrangements, and mobile-only tickets.
On the field, the team is planning for every scenario as the season begins.
“There could be a situation where we are down however many guys, and we need guys to show up and play and so we need everybody and so throughout the week making sure that everybody gets reps,” said Coach Aranda.
The Bears will open the season hosting Louisiana Tech with an 11 a.m. kick off at McLane Stadium.
