PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan)- College athletics has surely not been spared the uncertainty during this sports shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We've seen schools have to shut down programs, cut funding for scholarships and even the college football season is in jeopardy with potential societal restrictions lasting through the summer and into the fall.
"There's just a lot of unknowns still out there. I would categorize my expectation as optimistic. I'm relatively an optimistic person. I'm fairly optimistic but I'm not confident. We're taking it day by day. I know that we are relying on the medical world and the experts, many of whom at Pitt, who are trying to find a vaccine and study this and help us find a solution to it all.
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I'm optimistic. I'm not overly confident about it, but I am optimistic."
Lyke said she agrees with the sentiment that conference commissioners relayed to vice president Mike Pence yesterday that it doesn't make sense to have a football season if classes have not started and campuses are not re-opened. She also said she "can't fathom" a scenario in which a game would be played without fans because if it is unsafe for people to gather and be in contact, then the student athletes competing would be unsafe as well.
As far as what Pitt is dealing with financially, Lyke gave an answer that erases many doubts and fears.
"We feel at Pitt we're incredibly blessed. We have an unbelievable chancellor and a board of trustees and a university that's really supportive of the academic and athletic mission. We're an integral part of this university so I feel confident in where we sit.
I recognize the realities and the economic impact of this whole situation on our country and the world. Everyone needs to be obviously a lot more fiscally tight and conservative at this point. But we don't anticipate any significant changes to our sports sponsorship."
She is also aware of the tough spot many schools are being put in in having their spring sports seniors granted an extra year of eligibility. She said she was part of that decision-making counsel and voted against the idea, as did the ACC in totality.