A sense of normal: The path to the return of Gorilla football 

  Tuesday, October 13, 2020 12:00 AM
  News, Alumni, Campus Culture

Pittsburg, KS

“Football is an important part of our year at Pitt State and in Pittsburg, and we were determined to make it reality even in these very different circumstances. It’s taken a heightened level of coordination across our campus, but we were willing to do the work to make it happen."

— PSU President Steve Scott

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The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things in our community. But as weeks stretched into months, it became clear that Pittsburg State University could help create a sense of normal.  

“We started in the spring when we announced we’d return to face to face classes in the fall,” said PSU President Steve Scott. “That decision was a turning point for us, and since then we have sought out ways to bring back the things that mean the most to our students, faculty, and community, but do it in safe ways.” 

One of those things is football.  

In September, the university announced that Gorilla football is returning for the fall — though with a shorter season, two home games, and COVID-19 mitigation protocols in place.  

“Football is an important part of our year at Pitt State and in Pittsburg, and we were determined to make it reality even in these very different circumstances,” said Scott.  

Preparing for any game day in the best of circumstances is not an easy or straightforward task, let alone during a pandemic. 

"It’s taken a heightened level of coordination across our campus, but we were willing to do the work to make it happen,” Scott said. 

The behind-the-scenes work to schedule games with other like-minded universities began months ago and was led by PSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Johnson.  

“Once we confirmed we couldn’t have a normal season, we went to work finding alternative ways to play this year,” said Johnson. “We are fortunate to be in a conference with some other universities that place the same level of importance on football as we do, and we have colleagues all over the country who were willing to think outside the box and give our student-athletes a chance to play.” 

Johnson worked closely with the athletics directors at Missouri Western and the University of Nebraska-Kearney to form a scheduling alliance that gave each team two games against MIAA conference rivals. PSU filled out the schedule with games against Stephen F. Austin State University, West Texas A&M, and Western Colorado University.  

“Given where we started, to end with a five-game schedule is very gratifying,” said Johnson. “It’s taken a lot of hard work, but it’s all worth it when we see the energy at practice among our coaches and players, and the reception it’s gotten in our community. The return of Gorilla football has injected excitement and a level of normalcy into our fall.” 

Changes

Though gameday is happening, it will look different this year:  

• The university worked with the Crawford County Health Department and the Bryant Student Health Center to devise a COVID-19 mitigation strategy that calls for 25 percent capacity in the stadium, a mask requirement, and social distancing in the stands.  
• Tickets are sold by section rather than by specific seat. 
• Tailgating is not allowed. 
• Players, coaches, and field personnel submitted to game week testing. 

“Our priority is to provide a way for our players to play,” said Scott. “Once we felt comfortable with that, we turned our attention to creating a safe but somewhat normal experience for fans at our two home games. We’re all used to masks and social distancing by now, so this is a matter of carrying those principles forward to Gorilla football.” 

Looking ahead

In addition to football, the MIAA plans to start basketball on time. The start of the indoor track season is up to each institution. Volleyball teams will play their fall season in the spring. 

“Everyone says this, but these really are unprecedented times and we are all going through this together for the first time,” said Scott. “We’ve learned a lot since March, and we are putting that knowledge into practice by bringing a level of normalcy into as many things as possible. It might not look the same this year, but the core elements will be there and will put us on a path for a complete return when the time is right.”