Virginia football made it official on Friday. The university announced that players will report back to campus on July 5, along with a schedule of further operations and procedures to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Voluntary activities will run July 5-14. Fall training camp is set to open Aug. 9.
According to a release from Virginia, the protocols and for the return of student-athletes to campus were coordinated through the UVA Health System — a collaborative effort with “officials at the local, state and national levels.” The UVA Health System will also administer and coordinate testing for players, coaches and other stuff members. Positive tests will be reported to the Thomas Jefferson Health District of the Virginia Department of Health.
Before athletic activities resume, though, all athletes and staff members will receive COVID-19 specific education through various media forms, which will CDC and NCAA resources.
Just announced by @UVACoachBronco on @MarkPacker & @WesDurham – squad will report back to Grounds on July 5 to start prep for season. #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/4017pnVW6J
— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) June 26, 2020
By this point, Virginia was one of the last few ACC programs that had yet to return to campus. The July 5 date, however, is no surprise; three weeks ago, Jerry Ratcliffe reported that as the target date. Now it’s official.
The Cavaliers are coming off the most successful season of Bronco Mendenhall’s rebuild: 9-5 in 2019, including an electric win over rival Virginia Tech. Led by quarterback Bryce Perkins, Virginia won the Coastal Division, went to the ACC title game and the Orange Bowl.
UVA scheduled to open the year against Georgia on Sept. 7 in Atlanta.
Behind the leadership of Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, the state of Virginia has actually done a decent job managing the coronavirus crisis, all things considered. New cases of the virus are actually on the decline in the state, according to the New York Times. Northam announced this week that the state is set to enter Phase 3 of its reopening plan on July 1.
Upcoming Schedule for Virginia Football
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- July 5-14 – Voluntary activity
- July 15-25 – Required activity (up to eight hours per week of weight training, conditioning, film review)
- July 26-Aug. 8 – Required activity (up to 20 hours per week of activity include walk-thru sessions)
- Aug. 9 – Fall training camp opens (a five-day acclimatization period, followed by the opportunity for up to 25 on-field practices)
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