COLUMN: IHSAA changes schedule to keep football hopes alive

     By now, if you’re a high school football fan, player or coach, you have heard of the changes to the 2020 season being approved by the Board of Control of the Iowa High School Athletic Association July 24.

     In short, the IHSAA is planning for a season, with a maximum of seven regular season games, and every team in the state qualifying for the post-season. So while the regular season will be shortened by two games, the postseason will have six rounds instead of four.

     “To better prepare for the 2020 varsity football season, the IHSAA developed a revised schedule plan which allows for member school adjustments due to COVID-19,” reads an IHSAA statement.

     Monticello head coach Wes Wilson, and likely nearly every coach in the state, are simply grateful that for now, it appears there will be a high school football season in Iowa.

     “I’m excited we are going to have football,” Wilson said. “I give a lot of credit to the IHSAA for coming up with a plan to allow us to play, and give us the flexibility to make it work for our program.”

     Wilson said he believes the relative success of the baseball and softball seasons, which began their state tournaments this week, helped lead to the football decision.

     “All the baseball and softball programs in our state did a great job this summer, which helped the IHSAA come up with this plan,” Wilson said.

     The shorter regular season begin with “optional,” non-district games Aug. 28 and Sept. 4. In Class 2A, there will be five district games and either one or two non-district games. They also have the option of skipping one or both of the non-district weeks, without being penalized in terms of the postseason. Teams also will not be penalized with a loss or forfeit if they have to miss a game during the season due to state, county or local health department determinations regarding COVID-19.

     “I do like the shortened idea,” Wilson said. “I think with the lack of off-season workouts, it makes sense to shorten it, considering the possibility of injuries.”

     Monticello will play its district games two weeks earlier than on the previous schedule, starting with Week 3, Sept. 11, at home against Anamosa. The other district games are Sept. 18 at Maquoketa, Sept. 25 at home against Tipton, Oct. 2 at Camanche, and Oct. 9 at West Liberty.

     Wilson said it’s not certain which option Monticello will take on the non-district games.

     “Right now we are looking at a couple different options,” he said. “We may play two or just play one.”

     Wilson said he also agreed with having every team make the playoffs.

     “This gives teams a chance that may have had a rough start or had multiple injuries,” the Panther coach said.

     The post-season will include six rounds, beginning with a round of 64 Oct. 16, and ending with state finals Nov. 19-20.

     As for social distancing, Wilson said teams are supposed to be receiving guidance from the state soon.