San Jose State football players run drills during practice at CEFCU Stadium as they prepare for the fall 2019. Jesus Tellitud | Spartan Daily Archives
San Jose State’s football program is returning from Humboldt State Wednesday after Santa Clara County public health officials announced the County moved to the orange tier in California’s risk reduction order, meaning the team can conduct player-contact practices at SJSU.
On Tuesday, Santa Clara County moved from the red tier, which is considered substantial by having four to seven new cases a day per 100,000 people, to the orange tier, which is considered moderate by having one to 3.9 new cases a day per 100,000 people, according to California’s COVID-19 tier system.
“Since the middle of July, we have slowly drifted down to where we are today to meet the metrics of meeting the orange tier,” said Sara Cody, Santa Clara County health officer in a livestream Tuesday.
Now that the County is in the orange tier, the SJSU football team can play in San Jose rather than using the HSU football field.
This is only possible if the football program follows Santa Clara County’s new guidelines for collegiate and professional athletics, which become effective Wednesday.
SJSU football head coach Brent Brennan said in a Tuesday Mercury News article, the team plans to return home, take the day off Thursday to settle in and then start practicing Friday in preparation for the season opener against Air Force on Oct. 24 at CEFCU Stadium.
James Williams, Santa Clara County counsel, outlined the basics of the new guidelines on the Tuesday livestream.
“[The mandate] provides protocols around keeping small cohorts, wearing face coverings, [COVID-19] tests and other kinds of protections that will help reduce risks,” Williams said. “Although people need to be aware that having direct physical contact with other folks [and] teams who are going to potentially come into the community that [is] higher risk. This helps put some safeguards into place but doesn’t eliminate that risk, just reduces it.”
The collegiate and professional athletics mandate states that all athletes, coaches, staff, trainers, volunteers and other personnel interacting with players must receive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), testing on at least three non-consecutive days per week. They must also receive PCR testing within 48 hours prior to any home or away competition.
Fans will not be allowed to attend practices, games or other SJSU football events.
“San Jose State University Athletics looks forward to the return of the football team back to campus,” SJSU’s athletic department said in an email statement. “We want to thank everyone connected with Humboldt State University for hosting the Spartans since their arrival on Oct. 2. It was a collaboration of two CSU schools. The football program will continue following all of Santa Clara County COVID-19 health and safety protocols and guidelines to get ready for the start of the 2020 season.”
The mandate also states that athletes must live exclusively with other teammates unless they are married and have children. It also states that athletes can’t have guests over who are not members of that household.
If any collegiate athletic program or professional organization violates the mandate they will be immediately suspended from engaging in athletic activities.
After a violation occurs, the mandate states the collegiate program must demonstrate it fully corrected the violation and obtain Cody’s written approval before re-initiating athletic activities.