Usually at this time of year, red-and-black-clad students, parents and fans would be filing into Wilson Field to cheer on the Panther football and soccer teams in their fall sports seasons. This year, that’s not the case, as much of Division III play has been suspended – yet, there are still collegiate sports being played at the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Division I level.

Of the “Power Five” conferences in Division I athletics, programs within the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big 12 Conference and South Eastern Conference (SEC) have all elected to play their fall sports. Games, however, have been for the most part limited to in-conference play to confine travel.

So why have only Division I sports been able to continue? Well, in Chapman’s case, Athletic Director Terry Boesel said players’ safety was of the utmost importance to the university, and ultimately the money it would’ve cost to bring sports back wasn’t feasible. The SEC, ACC and Big 12 all test their athletes in high-contact sports – football and soccer – quite frequently throughout the week, according to Boesel, and that’s a luxury Chapman simply can’t afford.

“That testing component is outrageously expensive,” Boesel said. “There’s no way Division III schools can afford that testing.”

According to Jennifer Dubow, the Executive Director of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), tests could cost schools anywhere from $120 to $150 per person. However, she believes if universities are able to access these tests at a lower cost, sports will have a better chance at returning in the near future.

“There’s requirements for testing from the NCAA based on how often you play,” Dubow said. “There was something in the news … $5 tests that take 15 minutes and don’t get sent to the lab. If we had that available to us, maybe (that could be an option).”

Meanwhile, Boesel is trying to figure out the best possible way for sports to return to campus. He believes it is imperative for schools around the country to observe what’s happening, so each university does it better than the next.

“At North Carolina, the athletes are the only ones on campus, so they’ve maintained a bubble like you see in the NBA,” Boesel said.

Boesel’s first plan is to try and integrate regular team practices. According to him, more small group workouts will occur as classes begin to return to campus in what he called “clusters” of athletes. Once this is achieved, athletics wants to roll out a slate of games, but not until the calendar shifts to 2021.

Being able to practice in these clusters has a significant connection to county regulations. Chapman is the only university in the SCIAC that is in Orange County, which has begun to lift COVID-19 restrictions on businesses. Since not all counties are in the same situation, Dubow wants to ensure there’s no competitive advantage as they allow schools to start working out again.

“If you feel like you can go back and practice at this point, not all nine schools will be in the same conditions,” Dubow said. “But this might change down the line.”

Coaches at Chapman, such as football head coach Bob Owens, are ready to get back in action as soon as it is safe for his players.

“We’re really excited to hopefully get the opportunity to play in the spring,” Owens said. “Even though we’ll have a modified schedule, we’ll still be able to fight for a conference championship.”