Rutgers president 'far from certain' there will be college football amid pandemic

As universities around the United States continue to prepare for fall terms and a college football season scheduled to begin in late August despite growing coronavirus cases and spikes, there continue to be signs games won't begin as scheduled, if they happen at all.

On Wednesday, Rutgers University president Jonathan Holloway became the latest person to pour cold water over the hopes of football fanatics when he spoke with NJ Advance Media’s Adam Clark.

"I think we are far from certain that we are going to have a college football season in the fall," Holloway said. "Maybe in the spring, but even then we are just guessing right now."

Holloway continued:

“You can quarantine a fall sports team, by and large, for the fall semester. Not that I am a fan of that, but you can do it and then play a game in front of an empty stadium. It’s not desirable, but it can be done.”

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci believes the NCAA must embrace a "bubble" format to complete a season this fall.

As Mark Blaudschun of Sports Illustrated recently wrote, the Ivy League may shut football operations down until the spring, when teams will hopefully be able to play a conference-only schedule.

Last week, ESPN's Paul Finebaum reported that many in-the-know people privately believe there is a "very good" chance the start of the season is delayed because of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, outbreaks among football programs led former quarterback and current broadcaster and radio host Boomer Esiason to suggest schools may be encouraging student-athletes to unintentionally spread infections to build herd immunity among players.