Bluffton University football players are continuing to push themselves in both the weight room and the classroom as they stay motivated and hopeful for the upcoming season despite it being pushed back to spring because of COVID-19.
On July 27, 2020, the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference released a statement that explained, in the wake of concerns over controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus, all fall high-contact sports, such as football, will have the start of their competitive seasons delayed until the spring.
The Bluffton University football program has identified its main values, and its slogan, to be “family, academics, football.” While the pandemic may have made certain aspects of the timing of their season impossible for the moment, the program continues to find ways to uphold its values and keep a clear focus on their goals.
Aaron Krepps, photo by Tyler Avila.
“We have set the expectation within the program to win a conference title every year,” said Aaron Krepps, head football coach at Bluffton University. “The delay has not changed our goals because we will still be playing a full conference schedule in the spring.”
Despite having such a long wait, players are still getting into the weight room on their own time in preparation for the season. However, coming to terms with all of the changes that have been brought on by the pandemic has not been an easy process.
“As a senior, I wanted to go out on my own terms,” said Dana Shoulders, senior defensive lineman,. “The pandemic coming out of nowhere and changing everything has been very hard to accept.”
When asked how he keeps himself motivated Shoulders, explained he does so by keeping himself and his teammates aware of the fact that, as long as they continue to follow safety guidelines, they still have an upcoming season to prepare for.
Keeping a positive mindset and outlook on things has been a big help to the team in this time of change and waiting.
“It is all based on perspective,” said Krepps. “The delay allows our veterans to spend more time training and preparing for the season and allows our freshman to focus more on academics during their first semester of college. As a program, we are focusing on the opportunities that the delay has created.”
The program is doing its best to keep players and coaches connected virtually.
“The hardest adjustment we have had to make is not being able to have the team together daily,” said Krepps. “The everyday encouragement we normally have has been disrupted, and it has been challenging to find ways to replicate that.”
Krepps has some advice for students and student-athletes who are feeling discouraged about having things derailed by the pandemic.
“I am a firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason,” Krepps said. “You control your response to adverse situations; find the positives and be happy.”
