Cortland, N.Y. -- There are no games to prepare for, and now there is no practicing either for the SUNY-Cortland football team following some positive COVID-19 tests within the athletic department this week. After holding their first scheduled workout of the season Tuesday, the Red Dragons have been placed on pause.

"We were scheduled to practice three days a week, and lift twice a week," said preseason All-American lineman Travis Alvarez. "But, that recently just went on hold."

What You Need To Know


  • The SUNY-Cortland football team has paused practice after one workout because of positive coronavirus tests in the athletic department.

  • The 2020 Empire 8 fall sports season was cancelled in July because of the virus.

  • Red Dragons' senior tackle Travis Alvarez was named a D-III preseason All-American by d3football.com last week.

  • Alvarez has a school-record 10 blocked kicks in his career.

Alvarez speculates the pause could last a week or two, adding to the frustration he and his teammates are feeling after their football season was wiped out two months ago by the pandemic.

"It sucks, but whatever we can do, we'll move on and we'll deal with that."

The senior says he was heartbroken when he first heard the season was being cancelled. He says the Red Dragons had high hopes for this fall, the first under new coach Curt Fitzpatrick. But, that's also where Travis sees the silver lining.

"It's a loss, but it's also a win," he said. "We have a whole year to practice, we have a whole year to train. We can't dwell on the past, we just have to move forward and keep working for that next goal."

That goal is the 2021 season, and thanks to the NCAA's ruling awarding an extra year of eligibility to fall sports athletes in 2020, Alvarez says he'll be back, along with many of his teammates. The 6-foot-7, 310-pound tackle figures to be big part of next year's team, both literally and figuratively, as one of the premier kick-blockers in the country. The New Jersey native has already set a school record with 10 blocks in his career, earning preseason All-American honors from d3football.com.

"It's not all me, it's the whole field goal block unit," Alvarez humbly said. "It's tough, [opponents] do know about me, and when I'm on the scrimmage line they'll yell out, '7-2's right here!' So, I hear it, but you just have to fight through it."

Travis admits it's hard on the fingers, but the adrenalin helps ease the pain. He's just looking forward to the day when he can feel that adrenalin again, and suit up for an actual football game.

"We've got a year to train, we'll get better and move forward every day, and it'll be here in no time."