USC football: Mike Bohn uncertain about return of football in fall

The potential for USC football to be played in the fall is still uncertain, according to athletic director Mike Bohn.

Will USC football, and college football at large, return to action this fall? The answer remains very much up in the air.

USC athletic director Mike Bohn released a State of Troy address on Monday, hitting on the topic of COVID-19 and how it will impact fall sports.

“In my heart, I’d like to believe we can figure out a way to play some type of season in the fall,” Bohn said. “On the other hand, I recognize that we’ve got to be prepared in the event we don’t.”

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When it comes down to it, Bohn can’t say one way or another.

“I just don’t know for sure,” Bohn said, calling himself the “eternal optimist” on the subject.

Around the country, schools are beginning to show signs of a willingness to return to the normal state of play.

The NCAA released guidelines for the “socialization of college sport” which will depend on a 14-day period with a downward trajectory of COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek told his Board of Trustees he expects football practice to start by mid-July and the season to begin on time. Shortly after that proclamation, the university voted to hold in-person classes this fall.

Of course, USC’s reopening will coincide with California’s, not Arkansas’, but there were signs on Monday of movement on that front as well.

Gavin Newsom announced the plan to transition into Stage 2 of California’s reopening plan this Friday. That means opening low-risk businesses and public spaces.

Holding sports without live audiences is in Stage 3 of California’s plan to reopen.

Stage 4 involves events with crowds once again being allowed.

There is no telling how far away Stage 3 and Stage 4 are, but some movement in that direction is better than none.