College football returns

Our side is corrupt, but the other side is more corrupt.

Behind the headlines:

The Big Ten has reversed itself and decided to play an 8-game football season. Everything is back to normal — college football is mostly about the money, but it is also about the opportunity for players to have the experiences they agreed to when they accepted their scholarships.

From an AP story on college football’s return:

The Southeastern Conference, which intends to begin a league-only schedule on Sept. 26, is requiring players to be tested three times a week, as are the A.C.C. and the Big 12.

I hope someone keeps track of which players are kept out of games. Will they be starters or second- and third-stringers? In other words, will playing time for those who test positive depend on a player’s star quality?

Just think about it. If you are a coach, what better way to affect your opponent’s season than to have your COVID-positive player, the identity of which you have shielded, line up against the other team’s star lineman or skill-position player? And, when the opponent’s star player tests positive the next week, will that coach be tempted to shield the result, too?

This is an integrity test for institutions of higher education. How will they perform? Does anybody want to place a bet?