UGA sports teams get good news on next phases of summer workouts
Another sport takes another step toward normalcy after the NCAA Division I council passed legislation Wednesday night.
Men’s and women’s programs can begin required activities on July 20. The virtual and in-person activities cannot exceed more than eight hours per week, according to the NCAA.
Multiple sources told The Telegraph that Georgia women’s basketball players will return to campus Monday on a voluntary basis. The players were informed of updated plans Tuesday afternoon and were advised on numerous measures to ensure safety. Each player will be tested for COVID-19 and a four-week acclimation period will take place leading up to the July 20 start date.
The initial four-week period includes voluntary workouts, which are extended through July 19 and allow for “athletics activities and virtual nonphysical activity.” The legislation is contingent on each state’s government regulation, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has permitted the continuance of camps and sports activities.
Georgia begins its basketball seasons in early November, and would already be a few weeks into summer conditioning and practice periods. Lady Bulldogs head coach Joni Taylor has remained in contact with her team on a daily basis and has had success with virtual recruiting — landing two 2021 prospects in Kimora Jenkins (Long Island, New York) and five-star Reigan Richardson (Huntersville, North Carolina).
“Our top priority is the safety of our players,” Taylor said as the shutdown began in April. “We miss them so much, though, and are excited to get them back.”
Football gets mandatory date, but COVID cases spike
After two weeks of voluntary workouts, Georgia football gets to draw out its own preseason plans a step further.
Wednesday’s vote also approved a model for summer and preseason practices beyond the previous voluntary model. For schools opening their season on Saturday, Sept. 5, they can conduct eight hours of weight training, conditioning and film review per week from July 13-23. Georgia is scheduled to kick off its season on Labor Day, Sept. 7, against Virginia. It is unclear as to whether the dates remain the same for teams with later starts.
Following the first 10-day period, the NCAA has allowed for a 14-day period in which schools can conduct 20 hours of “countable activity.” This requires two off days per week and cannot exceed more than four hours per day. These activities include:
Up to eight hours of weight training and conditioning
Up to six hours for walk-throughs, which may include the use of a football
Up to six hours per week of meetings that include film review, team meetings, position meetings, etc.
No changes have been made to the 29-day period of preseason practices, which would begin Aug. 7 based on the schedule. Once more, that could be pushed back for the Bulldogs due to a Monday kickoff.
Georgia’s senior athletic director for sports medicine, Ron Courson, has developed an extensive set of precautions that the players must follow. As the pandemic continues, most of these guidelines could remain intact through mandated activity.
“They’ll come in and do a really light workout initially because we want to bring them back slowly,” coach Kirby Smart said on May 28 after dates for voluntary workouts were announced. “They’ll work out in smaller groups than traditionally before, probably 20 or so guys to a group, and they’ll be subdivided into groups of seven. You’re looking at a seven-person rotation in a 1,200-square foot weight room and they’ll be spaced out.
“There will be a cleaning crew that comes through and cleans where we are, from the indoor to the weight room. There will only be one door in, one door out. We won’t be using the locker room, there’s a lot of different things that people don’t understand that go into this.”
While voluntary workouts have begun, there have been cases of COVID-19 appearing within programs across the country. Some schools have shut down workout periods while many others have reported illnesses. Georgia hasn’t released any positive cases for players, but the university’s health center has reported a steep increase of coronavirus within students and faculty members.
As of 1 p.m. Wednesday (June 17), there were 79 cases reported by the university. There were 37 reported cases as of May 26 — over the first 11 weeks of the pandemic — and 42 positive cases over the past three weeks. It is not known if that steep increase includes athletes, but they did report to campus and receive testing prior to June 8.
Georgia football has not released a public update, and the NCAA prohibits any media coverage of voluntary workouts.
Coaches support review of school names, potential changes
The University System of Georgia — which includes Georgia and Georgia Tech — released an initiative to review names of buildings and colleges on campus. The news comes after many universities across the Southeast and nationwide have changed names of facilities or programs due to racist pasts of the namesakes.
The governing body didn’t give reason as to what spurred the specific release.
“This action today is a step toward addressing how communities understand the history and context involving our campuses,” USG president Steve Wrigley said. “While the review may be one part of a much broader discussion, I believe it is essential to advance how we serve students and all Georgians. I am grateful to the group’s members and look forward to receiving their recommendations.”
A number of coaches also voiced support for the potential changes.
Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins: “I fully support and am grateful to Chairman (Sachin) Shailendra, Chancellor Wrigley and USG for initiating this examination. Creating an inclusive environment is a cornerstone of the culture of Georgia Tech football. I applaud the efforts of USG to examine ways that we can enhance inclusion across our great state.”
Smart: “As both a UGA alum and the head football coach, I fully support the USG Board of Regents and chancellor’s decision to form this committee to study these important issues. This is an important first step in the right direction to help us evaluate our history and work to bring us closer together.”
Taylor, UGA’s lone black coach, via Twitter: “Happy to see (UGA) is taking positive steps to address the important issues on our campus and in our community. Looking forward to the continued progress our university will make.”
A recent column in the Red & Black called for a change to Georgia’s Grady College and Mass Communication. The school — along with a hospital and high school in downtown Atlanta — is named after Henry W. Grady, a journalist who preached white supremacy and worked to reintegrate states of the Confederacy after the civil war.
A petition was developed shortly thereafter, and it has 8,350 signatures as of Thursday morning. Some high-profile names, including Taylor, have signed the petition and supported the movement.