The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2020 THE WOLVERINE 17 grees. The University of Michigan en- joyed very encouraging results early in its battle to keep COVID-19 under control among its student-athletes, but the next outbreak could be just around the corner, many noted. "When you are at Schembechler Hall, we can control a lot of things," Jansen pointed out. "When you leave, when the coaches go home, that is when they have to be in control of things, and they're going to have to dictate what they're willing to do, what they're willing to sacrifice, to be able to have a college football season." TESTING IS SOLID, FINANCES ARE SHAKY Michigan's COVID-19 testing num- bers early proved much better than its projected financial forecast for the coming year in college athletics. On July 24, the U-M athletic depart- ment sent out the updated numbers, revealing only 12 positive tests out of the 559 done on student-athletes. Of 170 staff member tests, one came back positive. That's 13 positive results for the vi- rus among 729 tests, far better than many places around the nation. Michigan State suspended its football workouts and went into quarantine mode after recent positive results in coronavirus cases. Michigan's encouraging health numbers weren't matched by the pro- jected financial falloff from the virus. Michigan director of athletics Warde Manuel reported to the U-M Board of Regents on July 25 a projected surplus of $1 million for the current fiscal year. That's where the good news ended. The projection for fiscal year 2021 involves a $26.1-million deficit, with anticipated operating revenues of $135 million and projected expenses of $161.9 million. That represents more than a $50-million drop in rev- enues from the $187.4 million pro- jected from fiscal year 2020. Michigan officials made sure to emphasize it's a projection, while noting an anticipated gate revenue drop of 50 percent from the last fis- cal year to the upcoming one. U-M has gone into cost-cutting mode, fig- uring team and game expenses will drop $6.5 million over the previous year, while salaries will decrease by $6 million. Harbaugh and Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard are tak- ing 10 percent pay cuts from Aug. 1 until the fiscal year expires. Other rates of pay are getting reduced by lesser amounts, depending on the salaries. Michigan announced on July 15 there will be no football season tick- ets for 2020. It did make clear the following, in a release: "Status as a season ticket holder remains un- changed, and season ticket locations will be retained for the 2021 season." "We have been working closely with a wide variety of leaders to en- sure a safe and healthy environment for our student-athletes, coaches, fans and support staff associated with a game at Michigan Stadium," Manuel said. "We will follow the di- rection that all of these agencies and experts continue to provide during this challenging time." If the season goes forward, and if fans are allowed into Michigan Sta- dium, they'll get there by purchasing tickets on an individual game basis. All of those tickets will go to present season ticket holders and students, U-M made clear. The announcement included the following: "Season ticket holders will have three options to choose from re- garding their previous payments for Preferred Seat Contributions (PSC) and season tickets: convert the pre- vious payment to a tax-deductible athletic gift, apply payments toward the 2021 season, or request a refund. "Once a final decision on the foot- ball season is made, the athletic ticket office will follow up with additional details on how to request the option KICKED OUT? KICKED OUT? Head coach Jim Harbaugh and his team were still hopeful for a fall football season in late July, but nobody has any definitive answers yet. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN