Due to COVID-19, Wyoming football has been cancelled. Without football, University of Wyoming football players are forced to attend school without it.
“I was speechless, I didn’t know what to think. I knew it could be a possibility but once it happened, I was shocked,” said Junior linebacker Keyon Blankenbaker about the decision to suspend the 2020-21 football season until the Spring.
The announcement was made August 10, and left players and fans reeling. Blankenburger was joined by other notable Cowboy football players Alex Brown and Sean Chambers in voicing their opinions.
“Did all that work since January 1st for this fall, and not being able to show the strides we made as a team hurts,” tweeted Brown, a redshirt freshman receiver.
“There are many universities that put their players in a beyond safe environment for us to play football this fall. UWYO has done everything right since June 1st, and to (receive) news like this is a major blow to us,” tweeted Chambers.
With no games to play, Blankenbaker has said that it has been a challenge to adjust.
“My teammates and I were pretty prepared for this season and looking forward to it. So, it definitely made an impact on us” Blankenburger said, “But we’re getting through good and taking it day by day.”
Blankenburger, like many UW athletes, is simply trying to be ready when they get the go-ahead to play.
“I’m taking it day by day continuing to remain in shape so whenever the season does start, I’m prepared,” Blankenburger said.
Under the current UW COVID-19 protocols, players are only allowed to meet while maintaining proper social distancing standards.
As of the writing of this article, there are no set plans for a spring season to take place, but Cowboy footballers, and their fans, remain hopeful.
While several options have been suggested, such as a shortened season, only rivalry games and even a Vegas-style bubble, there has been no official word.
To complicate matters further, not all college football conferences have canceled their seasons.
The Big 12 conference begins play on September 26 with each school playing their non-conference game on the 12 of September. The SEC conference is also moving forward with their plan to play in-conference games only, set to start on the 26 of September as well.
For the Cowboys, only time will tell if we get to hear the beer song played once again, as so much remains in the air. Until word comes in, athletes like Blankenburger, have to wait.
