No one knows yet whether there will be a college football season in 2020. But just about everyone has a pretty good idea what the financial impact will be if there isn't one. It would be devastating, potentially crippling, for schools across the country. At the University of Florida, football is the financial engine that drives the athletic department and its overall 21 sports teams. In the 2019 fiscal year, football generated a profit of $47,950,819, while men's basketball was the only other sport with a profit, bringing in $2,455,291. The 19 other programs finished the year $33,528,175 in the red. So, a season without football could deliver a dire financial blow to UF. But, for now, the University Athletic Association isn't plotting strategy and brac ing for a potential financial crisis in the fall, and possibly beyond. UF is preparing as if the football season will go on as scheduled, starting on Sept. 5 in The Swamp vs. Eastern Washington.It's not necessarily a bold or optimistic strategy. I t's a matter of following the advice SEC commissioner Greg Sankey passed on to the league's 14 schools two weeks ago: "Our responsibility right now is to prepare for what's next, and what's next is the upcoming season," he said. So, at this stage, the Ga tors are planning for football in the fall, with the idea that fans will be in the stands. "Obviously, there is a lot of speculation out there," UF athletic director Scott Stricklin said. "If Sept. 5 comes and we're expected to be hosting people, we need to be prepared to do that. We can always adjust (to not having fans). - Gainesville Sun
rSr/2021  QB Kyle Trask, Florida
News Source: Gainesville Sun
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