Syracuse, N.Y. -- The first step toward preparing for the 2020 SU football season begins Monday, as the school has announced June 8 is the day student-athletes will be welcomed back to campus to begin voluntary training for the fall.

An article posted on the school's athletic website Tuesday night says Syracuse University's Department of Athletics is set to implement its own plan to safely reopen athletic facilities and prepare student-athletes for competition, while adhering to guidelines put in place by local and state health departments.

What You Need To Know


  • SU announces student-athletes can return to campus June 8.

  • Athletes will be brought together in phases, starting with 10-person pods and eventually involving the entire team.

  • Masks will be required inside all athletic facilities, but not while a student-athlete is training or working out.

  • Syracuse football training camp is scheduled to begin August 5.

"We are confident we can minimize the risk of viral transmission among staff and student-athletes while at the same time restoring some sense of normalcy to our training and preparation schedule," said SU athletic director John Wildhack.  "We believe that if we are cautious and diligent, and care for each other, we will be able to keep our student-athletes safe during the summer months and prepare them physically and mentally for top performance."

All student-athletes will be tested and isolated as soon as they return to campus, and the testing and isolation will continue for up to two weeks until a negative test result occurs.  

"We will be rigorous in the testing and monitoring of our student-athletes, and my staff and I will be working diligently to educate our team on prevention and detection," said SU football coach Dino Babers.  "My players know what is expected of them, and I will hold them accountable."  The release also states football training camp is scheduled to begin August 5.

The athletes will be brought together in phases, matching up in small pods of 10 players or less until July, when the pods will grow first to 30 student-athletes or less, followed by whole units and then eventually the entire team. 

Senior deputy director of athletics Herm Frazier has been appointed as SU's Infection Control Officer (ICO), and he'll be responsible for overseeing the testing and screening process as well as the cleaning and disinfection program for all athletic facilities.  Face masks will be worn in all facilities, but may not be required by student-athletes while training or working out.  However, social distancing measures will also be required.