Students, parents of student-athletes allowed as Level 3 guidelines return

On Feb. 10, the Wofford College Athletic Department announced via email that students would be allowed to attend Wofford basketball games in Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. These games include the Feb. 13 women’s game against Samford, and the men’s Feb. 17 and 27 dates against the Citadel and Furman, respectively. 

A limited number of tickets will be handed out the day prior to the given event, and are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a first-come-first-served basis at the Jerry Richardson ticket office. Masks and social distancing will be enforced, and the name on the ticket must match the Student ID. 

Prior to this news, the department had issued a Feb. 5 update on the fan attendance policy, allowing parents of student athletes to attend sporting events. The statement on the Wofford athletics website also announced plans to eventually allow limited student attendance. 

The sports in question included Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, Football, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Lacrosse and Baseball. 

The update came only days after a similar announcement on Feb. 2 that said no spectators would be allowed as the campus was closed to all visitors, but stated conditions would be monitored in an attempt to gradually integrate fan attendance. 

Dan Deeter, Director of Business Services and Risk Management, said that the college’s COVID-19 Working Group established community wellness guidelines, constituted by four operating levels, and this made the prior decision . The college is presently operating at Level 3, which allows 2-4 visitors per dorm room, depending on the specific dorm building.

Mark Line, Deputy of Athletics Director, announced that the college is in the process of working on several scenarios that will allow some students, parents, and fans to attend games, especially outdoor events.

A day before the Feb. 10 email was sent to students, Deeter stated that the college was planning on hosting students and parents of student-athletes for the Feb. 13 women’s basketball contest against Samford. Deeter also offered an optimistic take for the near future, “Many outdoor sports will take place this spring and we are hopeful that we can operate under levels that will be more agreeable for attendance at athletics events.”

“The working group has regularly discussed the possibility for attendance at athletics events, but the factors that we are monitoring related to COVID-19, including the number of cases on campus and the larger community, were not agreeable” Line sympathized with those yearning for sporting events, “We know that our campus community missed those opportunities and outlets. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we make decisions to support our community’s health, safety and well-being.”