Sports at University of Nebraska-Lincoln Look Different This Time Around
COVID-19 is imposing, complicated and frustrating. Some of those who are most affected are athletes.
If this were a normal year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) would host 20 different athletic programs. These programs draw attention from the Cornhusker faithful, generating over $122 million in revenue, according to the Nebraska Athletics 2019 Budget. Nebraska athletics stayed in the black in the last fiscal year, generating $41 million in profit. That is achieved through only three sports: football, men’s basketball and women’s volleyball.
But this isn’t a normal year. The Big 10 conference has already canceled the football season, UNL’s biggest source of athletic revenue (nearly $100 million). The Big 10 is working to cancel the rest of the conference's sports as well. What will Husker fans do without football? They won’t be watching cross country running, which was also canceled in late August.
However, there is talk of UNL basketball remaining available in a bubble scenario, similar to the strategy the NBA has used this year. Bubble basketball means that players are quarantined together and no outside people are allowed to come into contact with them. Less exposure to people means less exposure to COVID-19, helping keep players safe.
Basketball would not only help the fans during the pandemic, but it would also help the students and players too. COVID-19 will prevent fans from attending games, but Husker fans need sports. Fans will still appreciate sports even if they have to watch from their couches.
As unpleasant as it sounds, bubble basketball seems to be the best case scenario. There is the possibility of COVID-19 forcing the UNL campus to close. In the first week of students returning, UNL recorded over 140 positive COVID-19 cases. This would create a difficult decision for athletic directors. However, Husker fans are hopeful they will decide that the show must go on.
Joel Shetler is a Junior
Science Ed Major from
Ruckersville, Virginia