Empty stands and virtual bands: college football in the time of coronavirus
The first big weekend of college football in the US was mostly stripped of the pageantry that is at the heart of the game. The stands were empty, or attendance was limited, due to a pandemic that has upended the season
by Guardian sport
The Texas Longhorns take the field before Saturday’s game against the Texas El Paso Miners at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Photograph: Scott Wachter/USA Today Sports
The University of South Florida school marching band plays virtually on the screen before Sunday’s game between South Florida and the Citadel at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Fans were not allowed to attend to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Photograph: Chris O’Meara/AP
Wisdom Asaboro (77) and Michael Carter (8) of the North Carolina Tar Heels jump into to the empty student section at the beginning of the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against the Syracuse Orange at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Photograph: Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Texas Tech fans sit among the ‘ImpersonRaiders’, cardboard cutouts designed to make the stands look more full, before Saturday’s game against Houston Baptist in Lubbock, Texas.
Photograph: Mark Rogers/AP
United States Military Academy cadets salute during the national anthem before the start of Saturday’s game between the Army Black Knights and the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Michie Stadium in West Point, New York.
Photograph: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images
The University of Pittsburgh Panthers kick off to start Saturday’s game against the Austin Peay Governors at an empty Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Photograph: Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
A hand sanitizer dispenser in front of the Word of Life Mural, commonly known as Touchdown Jesus, on the campus of the University of Notre Dame before Saturday’s game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Duke Blue Devils at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
Photograph: Matt Cashore/USA Today Sports
Fans are socially distanced as they watch the second half of Saturday’s game between Kansas State and Arkansas State in Manhattan, Kansas.
Photograph: Charlie Riedel/AP
Kansas Jayhawks cornerback Karon Prunty (9) wears a Black Lives Matter shirt during warmups before Saturday’s game against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
Photograph: Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports
Only families of players watched the West Virginia Mountaineers and Eastern Kentucky Colonels on Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Photograph: Ben Queen/USA Today Sports
University of South Florida Bulls running back Darrian Felix (2) is tacked by Citadel Bulldogs defensive back Sean-Thomas Faulkner (25) in the first half of Saturday’s game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Photograph: Matt Stamey/USA Today Sports
The Iowa State University cheer squad roots for the Cyclones from the empty stands before their game with the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.
Photograph: Reese Strickland/USA Today Sports
University of Oklahoma fans look on from socially distanced seating areas before Saturday’s game against Missouri State in Norman, Oklahoma.
Photograph: Getty Images
Kansas State wide receiver Phillip Brooks (88) catches a touchdown pass against the Arkansas State Red Wolves during Saturday’s first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas.
Photograph: Peter Aiken/Getty Images
Kicker Gino Garcia (37) of the Houston Baptist Huskies kicks a field goal against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the first half of Saturday’s game at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
Photograph: John E Moore III/Getty Images