I was crazy excited about this season--the one we've been pointing to ever since DeCuire took over. Where all the parts were in place--a legit big; stellar true freshmen becoming sophomores; a potential star coming off a redshirt year; exciting recruits joining the mix.
Potential and excitement around here like Fourth of July fireworks. Our year, for sure.
And then the virus crept in. Just a few cases, soon to be zero--or so we were told.
Wrong!
So we shut 'er all down, and got it under control. At last, it was time to "open back up."
I was fully on board with that, believe me. My business is on a ventilator. Screw these mayors who could blithely shut things down while they kept their cushy jobs. The hell with these health experts we never voted for. Who were they to tell me what to do? Besides, didn't we now have masks? Weren't we "social distancing?" And washing our hands every three minutes?
Yup. It was time to open back up!
But now? Now I'm not so sure. Are you?
Are you sure there's going to be a football season? And even if there is, even it turns out we can be outdoors with little worry about a virus, is the same true for indoors? For basketball?
Even pro basketball players, guys who've been pointed to the NBA since they were grade-schoolers, guys who know little else but hoops, who were eager to play even if there weren't crowds--now suddenly aren't so eager to play. Kyrie Irving is leading a revolt to shut it down completely, and the movement may be gaining strength.
And even if they play, it won't be in front of fans. It'll be "made for TV."
My Carolina buddy thinks the same will be true for major college basketball as well--no fans, TV only.
But what about us mid-majors without TV contracts? What about us?"
"Montana's got short-wave radio!" my buddy chided me.
So what? So this: I believe I'm tempering my enthusiasm. Deliberately. To be surprised if we have a season rather than deflated if we don't.
Cause right now it all comes down to one thing: A vaccine. Until we get that, Covad is boss.
We can only keep our fingers crossed.