Cougar Football Getting Ready For a Spring Season

By Layla Lusby| Published by February 22, 2021

After playing their last game in November of 2019, Kean’s football team is getting ready to take the field.

The team was set to open the 2020 season on Sept. 4 at Delaware Valley University. However with the Covid-19 pandemic, the New Jersey Athletic Conference felt as though it was not safe to compete and the season was cancelled.

“I felt devastated going into the fall semester with no football,” senior quarterback Tyrae Taylor said. “Being around my teammates and coaches was motivation to get better day by day. When we got the news in the summer, not only did I feel devastated but the whole team felt the same way. I understand there are precautions that need to be taken but it was hard for me to watch Division I teams play and I wasn’t able to play my senior year of college.”

The Cougars have not played a game in fifteen months. Despite practicing, doing drills, working out during the offseason, this will be the first time the team will be together for an actual game. As of now there is no set football schedule, due to the conference having an opt out date of Feb. 15. It is expected that the Cougars will be taking the field this spring. 

Due to the pandemic, there are many precautions that need to be taken to keep the season running smoothly. Each player has to have weekly mandatory testing, daily temperature scans, and disinfectant is used to wipe down helmets, pads and footballs after practice sessions.

“Our President, Dr. Repollett was a major driving force behind giving our Student Athletes an opportunity this spring,” head coach Dan Garrett said. “I am grateful and extremely appreciative to have the opportunity to be coaching my team, but it was not my doing.  The inspiration was driven by the Presidents of our NJAC conference.” 

Kean’s quarterback can’t wait to step on the gridiron with his teammates after a long pause of playing football.

“I’m truly excited to get back there on the field,” Taylor said. “Having fun and doing what I do with my brothers is what I’m looking forward to. We’ve prepared physically and mentally these last few months just in case we received the opportunity to play again.”

Garrett took the time to reflect on what it took to get the program back together safely and prepare for a season in the middle of a pandemic.

“Appreciation is the word that I would use,” said Garrett. “We are all very appreciative to be back doing what we love to do. I think our guys have done a great job with making some necessary sacrifices in order to even get to this point. The ability to make responsible decisions in order to be able to get together and have the opportunity to even practice their sport and modify some of their daily actions and habits.”

The football program must adhere to the “Cougar Pledge”, where they cannot have parties or attend large gatherings, need to wear a mask, and wash their hands. The players know they have to comply with these measures if they want to have a season in 2021.

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