After a Contentious Summer, Football Plays on. Why? It's Complicated, Even in Alabama

For me, all that's left are lines crossed off in my planner.

Today, Thursday, Sept. 3, I was supposed to be getting ready to head to Texas. We were going to send numerous people to cover the season opener at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, so driving was the plan.

Alabama was scheduled to be the marquee game of Labor Day weekend by facing Southern California, a game that was canceled seemingly ages ago (although it was just July 10) and already largely forgotten.

Consider it a sign of the times.

Was it the right decision? You could 10 different people from around the country and get 10 different answers.

Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated did just that and more, while exploring how and why we got there. "To play or not to play" was the question of the summer, and in the end, we got both in a fractured America — and both sides of the college football debate have been highly scrutinized and contested.

"It blows my mind that our puny-ass school is playing and some of the biggest college programs in America aren’t," said one person.

Another he asked was Nick Saban during a recent virtual press conference. Here's the Alabama coaches' answer in full:

"I don’t think we have 101,000 people coming to the games if it wasn’t important to them," he said. "A lot of people have a lot of pride in their institution all over the Southeast Conference and all over the country. People love football in the Southeast I think whether it’s high school football — that can be the social center of the community.

"I know that sports tied our town together when I was growing up in Monongah, West Virginia. The last guy turned the lights out because everybody went to the game. Everybody to the football game on Friday night. Everybody went to the basketball games. They closed the pool room. They closed [the place] where we used to play pinball and they played cards all night. So they closed all those places because everybody went to the game. So why is that so important to people? They love sports.

"People identify with competition. A lot of the principles and values that make you a good player in sports, whether it’s pride in performance, personal discipline, your ability to sustain effort and toughness and persevere and overcome adversity. It’s been a part of our society since back in the Greek days. That’s why it’s important.

"Now, is it more important than public safety? No, I don’t think so. Is there a way that we can do that and keep people safe? I think a lot of people are trying to do that, and if we can do that I think we can play. If we can’t do that then I think someone will make the decision that maybe we shouldn’t play. But I don’t think that we should not try.

"I really appreciate the fact that we have a lot of people out there working hard. This is about the players. Everybody act like we want to play for the money. We want to play for the players. I want to play for the players. We have a lot of guys on our team that can create a lot of value for themselves by playing this season. And we can create a lot of value and these guys have worked really hard to try to create and accomplish something as a team. All those things, to me, are important to the players. And I want to play for the players. I know it’s important to the fans. I love our fans. I love the way they support our team. They’re a part of our team. We want them to continue to be a part of our team in whatever way they can. But this is really about providing an opportunity to the players if we can do it in a safe way."

Regardless, the Football Bowl Subdivision kicks off tonight. UAB is hosting Central Arkansas (which has been hanging out in Birmingham all week) and South Alabama is visiting Southern Miss.

Alabama is set to play at Missouri on Sept. 26.

What do you mean there are no whistles?

In addition to the teams not playing, bands not allowed on the field and the limited attendance, there are some minor changes that everyone will notice including that there will be no whistles being blown by officials.

Due to health concerns, each official will use an electronic whistle, usually attached at the waist.

Officials will also wear a solid black mask, which can only be lowered when the official is in space (i.e. social distancing) or to "replenish oxygen." Many will sport protective eyewear and gloves.

Three other items of note:

• The Auburn rule: If the clock expires at the end of a half, and replay determines that there was time remaining on the clock, and the clock would start on the referee’s signal after review, there must be at least three seconds remaining when the ball should have been declared dead to restore time to the clock. With two seconds or one second remaining on the clock, the half is over.

• Teams are allowed to wear a commemorative/memorial patch intended to celebrate or memorialize persons, events, or other causes. It can be up to 2¼-square inches and must be placed on the front or sleeve and not interfere with any required markings.

• The designated team area along the sideline will be expanded to the 15-yard lines.

Did you notice?

• The biggest question for each of SI's Top 16 preseason teams

• After the death of Tom Seaver, it’s worth revisiting Tom Verducci’s story from October on Seaver and the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Mets.

• Making sense of the biggest NBA playoff story lines. Also, non-stars who could swing a series in a NBA playoffs.

• The Intercollegiate obtained athlete conduct manuals from 52 Division I universities and uncovered wild policies like Dabo Swinney’s rules about hair and several bans on interteam dating.

Christopher Walsh's notes column appears twice a week on BamaCentral