Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) students were delighted by the return of the NFL regular season last weekend. The event provided a much-needed sense of normalcy to a very unusual school year. However, coronavirus concerns have many unsure of how long the new season will last.
The NFL kicked off its season Thursday, Sept. 10, with the Houston Texans against the Kansas City Chiefs. Approval from the Kansas City mayor and health/emergency management directors meant that a limited attendance of fans in-stadium was possible. Despite this, many other teams chose not to allow in-person attendance for their first games.
On campus, many students could not gather for their usual watch parties and celebrations. Instead, they have opted for watching in small socially-distanced groups or communicating their reactions via social media. Despite the limitations, students are still eager to see how the NFL season will play out.
“I’m excited, but I’m not anticipating it lasting very long,” TAMUK graduate student Pedro Gonzalez said.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL has implemented a number of health precautions to ensure the season runs safely. Teams are also allowed to choose whether fans will be allowed for future games.
The NFL season continues Thursday, Sept. 17, with the Cincinnati Bengals against the Cleveland Browns. The league is prepared for less than 16 games, and the weekend will serve as a trial for whether the season will carry on as it has begun.
“We all have to do our part here to be successful in completing our season. I think we have a plan that will get us there,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in published reports.
Unlike the NFL, Texas A&M University-Kingsville as per the Lone Star Conference has responded to COVID-19 by postponing its own football season until Spring 2021. For this reason, numerous students and sports fans on campus are excited for the rest of the upcoming NFL season.
“It’ll be nice. Even though things are different, I’d rather have some sports than absolutely no sports,” Community Advisor Tanya Prazelini said.