Genius Move of 2020: Arizona State Opts For Full-Team Redshirt in Face of COVID-19
As swimming world looks back at some of the major stories of the past year, we look at Arizona State’s summer decision to redshirt the entire team for the 2020-21 campaign. Because of the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, coach Bob Bowman spoke with his athletes, their families and ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson before deciding that a full-team redshirt would be an advantageous decision.
When the decision was made, question marks surrounded practice opportunities due to Coronavirus restrictions. More, how the season would play out was uncertain – and there is still wonder about what will happen as there are COVID-19 spikes across the country. By going the redshirt route, ASU swimmers could remain in school and train, and work toward a graduate degree. Meanwhile, the team should be stronger when it returns in 2021-22.
The Original Article:
Arizona State is the first power five college swimming and diving program to make a decision about the upcoming college season — and Bob Bowman made a stunning announcement that the entire team will take a redshirt this season and focus on 2021-22.
Bowman consulted with the team and the athletes’ parents before making the decision.
According to the school, all involved parties agree this plan will allow for maximum flexibility and confidence for the student-athletes and their families in regards to their location and practice situation due to COVID-19. All members of the Sun Devil swimming & diving programs will redshirt and only train in 2020-21, with the expectation the entire roster will return in 2021-22.
“In March, (Vice President for University Athletics) Ray Anderson challenged all Sun Devil head coaches to find ways to make our programs stronger after the COVID-19 crisis,” Bowman said. “This decision clearly accomplishes that goal. It promotes the health and safety of our student-athletes, enhances their educational opportunities and allows time to rebuild and refocus on performing at the highest levels of NCAA competition.”
This plan, which can be accomplished within existing scholarship limits, allows the student-athletes to enroll in courses as full-time students across all learning platforms and will allow most to pursue graduate degrees in a five-year window.
“Many of our student-athletes will now have the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree during their additional year on campus,” said Bowman, who has coached nine Pac-12 individual champions in his five years at Arizona State. “This is a tremendous benefit which we are excited to offer to a tremendous team which has great academic goals.”
Added Anderson, “This unique approach will provide additional opportunities for these student-athletes to pursue educational endeavors. Our goal as a department is to provide an elite student-athlete experience and this methodology will allow an additional year on campus for these student-athletes to train and achieve championship performance together, but also realize new academic goals.”
The past four months have not allowed proper training, but under the new plan Bowman knows the shifting of goals to a more realistic timeline is advantageous for NCAA and Olympic championship level athletes.
“With a renewed clarity of purpose, we can shift our focus to long course swimming and preparation for the Olympic qualifying competitions next year,” Bob Bowman said. “We know this process will best prepare our team to excel at the highest levels of our sport and will take our program to the next level.”
With competition events normally starting in September and finishing in March, a typical swimming/diving competition schedule takes place over seven months. The stress of any cancellations and all team travel is now eliminated and budgets can be adjusted.
“We know this is our best course of action. It gives us clarity, direction and a good plan that our team can benefit as athletes and students, and allows families to feel at ease over being able to watch their Sun Devils at the 2022 NCAA Championships, which was taken away last year,” Bowman said. “Our teams and our program are in great shape. It is the summer of 2020 and some additional things have to be considered. We are very confident in this plan and know it is the best interests of our program, our student-athletes and our athletic department. Much thought went into it and we are excited to start working with a firm training calendar.”
I am not so sure and don’t know if you can say genius until end of March! Wonder if Alabama football or Clemson, OSU or ND think they should have given up on season or Texas, Cal or Georgia should have quit on this swim season?