Mercer football, basketball players prepare for fall amid COVID-19 uncertainty

Mercer University athletic teams have started preparing for the fall, although exactly what their seasons will look like remains uncertain as COVID-19 continues to spread across the United States.

First-year head football coach Drew Cronic is getting his players ready for a fall season, but understands the start date could get pushed back or the season canceled. However, he remains optimistic that the Bears will play games this year and said the university administration and his coaching staff are putting the team in the best position to have a season, either this fall or in the spring.

“I think we’re gonna play football this fall. Really. I think that there’s a bigger chance that we will then there’s a chance that we won’t,” Cronic said. “I think we need college football. And our young men need it. I want to see them be able to play.”

Working remotely

Mercer football players are currently participating in voluntary workouts. The team was already going to have a different look this fall under Cronic. But the coronavirus has forced him and his assistant coaches to be a bit more creative in getting to know their players, installing new systems and building team camaraderie. Cronic said he has held a steady dose of Zoom meetings since spring practice was cut short after just three days.

“As a coach and as as a leader of young men, you try to take whatever situation you’re in... and do the best you can,” Cronic said. “Hopefully, this has made us better coaches, as far as our ability to be creative in communicating with our guys and teaching.”

This is typically the time of year when position battles are taking place, but the absence of a full spring practice and a shortened summer has made the evaluation process a bit more difficult for Cronic. The team went through a full scrimmage on what ended up being the final day of spring practice in anticipation of a potential shutdown. That gave players a chance to showcase some things that Cronic and his staff are looking for heading into the season.

“We also are going to have a lot of new faces here. So in a lot of ways it’s an opportunity for for new guys to come in and compete,” he said. “We’ve watched a lot of last year’s film to see guys in action in games. And that’s not as good as having the spring, but it’s still something.”

Coaching an NFL player

One exciting moment did occur during the long layover as Cronic had a player from his previous stop at Lenoir-Rhyne University get drafted in the second round by the New England Patriots: safety Kyle Dugger.

“Kyle Dugger is a special young man… Kyle was a late bloomer and he worked hard. He had a good attitude. I think the fact that we had success over the last two years obviously helped him,” Cronic said. “I hope here at Mercer we have guys get drafted in the future.

“We certainly want to have that caliber of player and be able to build and develop guys and have guys with great attitudes, who give themselves a chance to have those opportunities.”

Basketball team prepares to get back on the court

Mercer men’s basketball coach Greg Gary recently answered questions from the Telegraph about the upcoming season while attending a rally hosted by former Mercer football players.

“We’re not allowed to do anything with them from a coaching standpoint until July 20; then we can get guys on the court,” he said. “I’m anxious for that, and I know they are too. They’ve grown up playing basketball, so to take that away from them is hard. I’m excited about the year coming up, I think we have a good group.”

Gary said he’s looking forward to the return of senior Ross Cummings, who missed all but six games last season due to an injury. In 2018-19, the guard averaged 17.4 points per game. Redshirt juniors Neftali Alvarez and Felipe Haase are also now available after sitting out a year due to transfer rules.

“In the six games [Ross] played in he wasn’t healthy. He’s had a really good summer,” Gary said. “His foot feels good, so I’m excited to have him back. Felipe and Neftali, I’m anxious to get them ready. I know they’re ready to play; it’s hard sitting out all year.”

Mercer brought in four freshman and a junior college player, so this season’s Bears squad has seven athletes who either didn’t play for Mercer last season or played limited minutes.

“Our depth is going to be really good,” Gary said. “You bring Kamar [Robertson], Jeffrey [Gary] and James [Glission III] back, and you have good pieces who got a lot of good experience last year. Now it’s our job to mesh it together.”

This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 9:56 AM.