College Football Playoff week is here, with a pair of semifinal games on Friday: Alabama vs Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP) — They are trying to have as many fun events as they can at the Orange Bowl for Georgia and Michigan, as always, taking advantage of the tropical lifestyle that the Miami area has to offer. Dinner cruises. Beach days. Water toys.
It’s just like normal.
Or, more accurately, the new normal. College Football Playoff week is here, with a pair of semifinal games on Friday: Alabama vs. Cincinnati at the Cotton Bowl, followed by Georgia vs. Michigan at the Orange Bowl. For the second consecutive season, college football is going to try to get across the finish line amid a raging pandemic, with numbers soaring all over the country and some other bowl games getting canceled after teams determined they simply aren’t healthy enough to play.
“The key is just to make sure that we put every protocol in place that focuses on their health and safety,” said Jack Seiler, the president and chairman of the Orange Bowl Committee. “We’ve been able to do that. We’re just focusing on the health and safety of the players and making sure we have an incredible game on Friday night.”
The people facilitating the games in both areas — the Orange Bowl in South Florida, the Cotton Bowl in North Texas — are doing all they can to ensure the four teams are healthy and able to play. Staffs are constantly reminded about all the best practices that have become part of everyday life since March 2020, such as mask wearing, handwashing and social distancing.
The calendars for all four teams have been pared down a bit. Media sessions are virtual, and events where in pre-pandemic times there might have been some fan interaction are basically nonexistent.
“We’ve got to constantly remind ourselves we’re here for a reason,” Michigan offensive coordinator Josh said. “This is purely a business trip. We’re afforded the luxury of being in Miami in such a great hotel and have all the surrounding hospitality, but it doesn’t matter if we’re playing this game in Ann Arbor, Athens or Miami, we’re here for a reason, and the College Football Playoffs is that reason.”
They played in the Orange Bowl for Wake Forest 15 years ago. It was a big game but not one that was sending the winner into the national championship game, he thinks players understand why they might have to curb the fun and frolic a bit this week.
And yes, it seems that understanding does exist.
“It’s getting really crazy out here,” Georgia safety Chris Smith said, when asked about virus numbers rising just about everywhere. “They’re just reiterating the fact that you need to be safe, wear a mask, wash your hands, stuff like that, to make sure we don’t have a breakout or anything like that.”
Bowl games tend to have some sort of element of community involvement, and the Cotton Bowl is no exception. Alabama and Cincinnati were both assigned a hospital to visit in an effort to boost spirits for patients.
This week, those visits are happening virtually. Just in case.
“I think that everybody’s ability to stay focused on the task and manage their business the right way and do everything that they can from a protocol standpoint to not put themselves at risk so that they can stay safe,” Alabama coach Nick said.
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