Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Athletic Director Vince Tyra Updates the Media on Thursday Afternoon
April 09, 2020 | General
Louisville, Ky.- University of Louisville's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics/Athletic Director Vince Tyra spoke with the media on Thursday afternoon. He informed the media on how the athletic department is handling the current COVID-19 situation and what the future holds.
"Our primary focus and our guiding principle are the student athlete's safety, health, and welfare," said Tyra. "We're dealing with 600 plus athletes and all the things that are going on in their lives. It takes a lot of management. They are the reasons that we get to have these cool jobs here and do what we do. I think that our team has done a great job in providing leadership."
The biggest question, for the NCAA, was the eligibility of spring sport athletes due to their season being cut short.
"The NCAA did pass some decisions on extending the five-year clock of student athletes related to cancellation of the spring sports, additional financial aid, and extending scholarship limits to spring sports," said Tyra.
This decision offers the current seniors another year of eligibility to be a student-athlete at the university. Tyra believes that there will be athletes that will take advantage of this decision.
"We have 36 that would be eligible. If I had to do a mason dixon line, I'd have to say its right in the middle at 18," Tyra stated. "I think our sport administrators and head coaches are pretty aware of who has an opportunity to move on either professionally, meaning a career outside of sports. Most have indicated whether they're going to go on to graduate school or take on a job opportunity."
Tyra announced that the football season will be a primary area of concern that would affect the athletic department.
"The football season is going to be the primary one, as most know, because of the financial implications on the athletic department," explained Tyra. "It would be in everyone's best interest if we could start on time and have our season has planned. We are all developing contingency plans on the schedule and the financial impact that it may have even if we started on time."
An initial resolution to playing games, was the idea of games without fans in the arena. This was considered throughout the sports world until more serious measures were taken.
"I don't foresee games in the stadiums without fans, I just don't," said Tyra. "I think we've learned more since that consideration, of having basketball tournament games in an arena without fans, to where we are today. I really think that health officials with make those decisions and not the leaders in the athletic world."
Tyra has been in talks with the football staff, and head coach Scott Satterfield to discuss the time it they would need to prepare for the upcoming season.
"For the safety of them, you don't want them out there in poor condition," Tyra explained. "That's when injuries happen, is when kids aren't well conditioned. I'm hopeful that we will get a 60-day window before our first whistle blows."
Even though quarantine has the world on hold, Tyra said that the athletic department is continually active in recruiting efforts.
"Our coaches are doing a terrific job in organizing everyone and communicating on a daily basis," he said. "Recruiting is on a dead period, as far as official/unofficial visits through May 31st, but the coaches are still recruiting. They are reaching out and those that are great communicators, great leaders, and great organizers are going to win in this process."
The economic impact from the quarantine has led the university to make some changes that would help relieve the effects during this time.
"We are going to have the senior staff and head coaches forgo 10% of their compensation during the next fiscal year," Tyra stated. "We're committed to trying to do everything that would help the cause here. I just don't want to put the university in anymore of a flux than it needs to be at this point."
When asked about the effects of an adjusted budget, Tyra talked about what areas specifically would be targeted.
"We are looking at a number of initiatives, but as it gets into sports budget there's quite a bit," said Tyra. "We may be on buses more than teams like, incidental meals, trimming of things that we are able to do. We are looking at all our agreements with any vendor or any commitments out there. Everything is under review as we get in and start to tally up the initiatives."
"Our primary focus and our guiding principle are the student athlete's safety, health, and welfare," said Tyra. "We're dealing with 600 plus athletes and all the things that are going on in their lives. It takes a lot of management. They are the reasons that we get to have these cool jobs here and do what we do. I think that our team has done a great job in providing leadership."
The biggest question, for the NCAA, was the eligibility of spring sport athletes due to their season being cut short.
"The NCAA did pass some decisions on extending the five-year clock of student athletes related to cancellation of the spring sports, additional financial aid, and extending scholarship limits to spring sports," said Tyra.
This decision offers the current seniors another year of eligibility to be a student-athlete at the university. Tyra believes that there will be athletes that will take advantage of this decision.
"We have 36 that would be eligible. If I had to do a mason dixon line, I'd have to say its right in the middle at 18," Tyra stated. "I think our sport administrators and head coaches are pretty aware of who has an opportunity to move on either professionally, meaning a career outside of sports. Most have indicated whether they're going to go on to graduate school or take on a job opportunity."
Tyra announced that the football season will be a primary area of concern that would affect the athletic department.
"The football season is going to be the primary one, as most know, because of the financial implications on the athletic department," explained Tyra. "It would be in everyone's best interest if we could start on time and have our season has planned. We are all developing contingency plans on the schedule and the financial impact that it may have even if we started on time."
An initial resolution to playing games, was the idea of games without fans in the arena. This was considered throughout the sports world until more serious measures were taken.
"I don't foresee games in the stadiums without fans, I just don't," said Tyra. "I think we've learned more since that consideration, of having basketball tournament games in an arena without fans, to where we are today. I really think that health officials with make those decisions and not the leaders in the athletic world."
Tyra has been in talks with the football staff, and head coach Scott Satterfield to discuss the time it they would need to prepare for the upcoming season.
"For the safety of them, you don't want them out there in poor condition," Tyra explained. "That's when injuries happen, is when kids aren't well conditioned. I'm hopeful that we will get a 60-day window before our first whistle blows."
Even though quarantine has the world on hold, Tyra said that the athletic department is continually active in recruiting efforts.
"Our coaches are doing a terrific job in organizing everyone and communicating on a daily basis," he said. "Recruiting is on a dead period, as far as official/unofficial visits through May 31st, but the coaches are still recruiting. They are reaching out and those that are great communicators, great leaders, and great organizers are going to win in this process."
The economic impact from the quarantine has led the university to make some changes that would help relieve the effects during this time.
"We are going to have the senior staff and head coaches forgo 10% of their compensation during the next fiscal year," Tyra stated. "We're committed to trying to do everything that would help the cause here. I just don't want to put the university in anymore of a flux than it needs to be at this point."
When asked about the effects of an adjusted budget, Tyra talked about what areas specifically would be targeted.
"We are looking at a number of initiatives, but as it gets into sports budget there's quite a bit," said Tyra. "We may be on buses more than teams like, incidental meals, trimming of things that we are able to do. We are looking at all our agreements with any vendor or any commitments out there. Everything is under review as we get in and start to tally up the initiatives."
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