The next challenge for BYU's unique football season: a new approach to campus life

PROVO — In nearly four years since transferring to BYU, fifth-year senior Tristen Hoge did something he’s never been able to do Monday.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive lineman put his mask in his car, grabbed some of his gear for football practice and drove to campus. The Pocatello, Idaho, native pulled into the parking lot and immediately found a spot outside the Cougars' indoor practice facility, next to the student-athlete building where he spends most of his day.

Before exiting his vehicle, he grabbed his face mask and wrapped it around his face. Then he headed to practice on the first day of school.

What had he never done before?

It wasn’t the driving, the practice or the mask. It was the parking lot, a normally jam-packed lot now significantly less crowded in Provo — even on the first day of classes since mid-March.

"I can’t complain about that," Hoge said with a smile. "That being said, there’s definitely a different dynamic when it comes to campus."

BYU began classes Monday unlike any other. And though the Cougars' football program is one of the only teams west of Texas still planning to play in the fall of 2020 — the only one in Utah, and only one west of the Rocky Mountains, in fact — the stark contrast of that more-empty parking lot was a signal that this season will be unlike any other.

In an offseason that was anything but normal, with the cancellation of most of spring football, the spring athletic season, and an alteration of most summer workouts, as well, BYU players and coaches — let alone every other student that reported to campus in a fall semester that will feature a hybrid of in-person and online learning — were just excited for the sense of normalcy that came with two words Monday: game week.

The Cougars will play at Navy Monday (6 p.m. MT, ESPN). That’s as normal of a sentence as one can read during the recent pandemic, which has shut down much of the American economy — including the $7 billion industry of college football — for more than to five months.

"I just miss football," BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. "Seeing all the high schools play in our state has been cool. It’s just part of getting back to a schedule, with such an odd year that we’ve had."

It’s not that the Cougars don’t want to stay safe. Quite the contrary; they are testing each player, coach and staff member at least three times per week for the novel coronavirus, a feat made possible by a new saliva-based test that promises 90-99% success rates in detection and turnaround times.

BYU previously tested through nasopharyngeal swabs, as well, a process that ... well, it’s unpleasant; just ask any of the 659,855 Utahns who have been subjected to the brain-swabbing endeavor during the pandemic to date.

Still, they’ll do what they need to do to play football — testing, mask-wearing, practicing social distancing and good hand-hygiene. They’ll even avoid the parties and social outings that are sure to sprout up in Provo (as they will in every college town in America) if that’s what they’ve got to do.

Everyone on campus is trying to do their part to help control the spread of the virus, to ensure the continuation of a lot of things — be it the 2020 football season, or just the semester of face-to-face learning and on-campus living.

"Obviously, everything’s a little bit different than before," BYU spokesperson Todd Hollingshead told KSL TV on Monday. "We really think it is a team effort between the university and our students and the community. We really hope everyone can kind of chip in, and if everyone does their own part, then that can help us be successful this semester."

For many, especially the single players, doing their part may include pairing up with roommates on the team and limiting their "bubble" of contact. Starting quarterback Zach Wilson has been known to live with wide receivers Dax Milne and Gunner Romney, for example.

Many will be limited to strictly online classes, when possible. Sure, that limits face-to-face interaction with the rest of the student population. But it’s not all bad, said senior nose tackle Khyiris Tonga.

"I love online classes," quipped Tonga, an NFL prospect. "I don’t have to wake up super early and get to class. I can do it all from my house.

"That’s probably the biggest difference I see — and everyone is wearing masks now."

Back on Campus

BYU students return with mask requirements on, off campus

Students and faculty returned to class at Brigham Young University for the first time since March, with new mask requirements on- and off-campus under Provo’s new mask mandate.

Hoge figured most of his schedule this year would be online. He graduated in the spring with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and his master’s in public administration program has been flexible in allowing a heavy schedule of online coursework.

Like many in Utah, he’s even grown accustomed to the "new normal" of things like face-coverings in public.

"There’s definitely a different dynamic when it comes to campus," Hoge said. "You can’t see people’s faces when they’re wearing a mask, and don’t know if they’re smiling or not smiling with those masks on. There’s a tangible difference, but it doesn’t disturb me much.

"At this point, I’m kind of used to how the world is working."

Truthfully, football players have always lived a different life than other students on campus. This year, they have more of a reason to do so.

"More than ever, we’ve always said we have to hold them to a different standard," Sitake said. "You’re not going to be able to do the same thing that other students do. ... You have to be more mindful of your schedule, the clock, and rest; things that normal students don’t have to worry about.

"We’ve just added a little bit more to it. They know they are in a unique situation … but we’ve heard no issues from our players. They’re just grateful for the opportunity to play."

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