Greg Schiano has been busy recruiting, hiring his staff and implementing his new system since he was re-introduced as the Rutgers University head football coach in December, but now, the future of the 2020 season is uncertain. 

 

Schiano was scheduled to be back on the Rutgers sideline next Saturday for the Scarlet-white spring game, but coronavirus has stopped the sports world in its tracks.

“We've had players that have lost people to the virus, and it's sad and it’s things you don't even think about, they have to do a virtual family service, those are hard things,” says Schiano.

 

“In any adversity, there's always opportunity and one of the things that's been a really cool thing is I've had more family dinners in the last month than I've had in the last 20 years,” says Schiano.

For the team, things they would normally spend a day on in physical practice is now taking a week to teach virtually, but it may not be a bad thing.

“Without the urgency to get out on the field and do it we're able to spend a much longer period of time on each phase so hopefully the players are getting a better understanding that way,” says Schiano.

 

Schiano says he doesn't want to speculate when college football will resume, or whether fans will be allowed. He's only focusing on what he can do here and now.

“I just try to prioritize what's more important, so first and foremost is the health and well-being of our players and their families and our staff and their families,” says Schiano.

Rutgers will open its season against Monmouth Sept. 5, if the 2020 college football season starts on time.