Will 'Covid Parties' Be What Derails College Football?

Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith has a Covid party issue on his hands. Specifically, Chief Smith knows for a fact that COVID-19 positive students have been attending parties. While speaking at a city council meeting, the chief didn't specify which schools these students attend, just that officials know students are purposely attending parties while carrying the virus.

And it goes even deeper than just attending parties. Smith says students are gambling on which student will get it first. "They put money in a pot and they try to get COVID. Whoever gets COVID first gets the pot."

"We had seen over the last few weeks parties going on in the county, or throughout the city and county in several locations where students or kids would come in with known positives. We thought that was kind of a rumor at first....we did some additional research....not only did the doctor's offices help confirm it but the state confirmed they also had the same information," Smith said.

Tuscaloosa City Council passed a 30-day mask ordinance and it goes into effect July 6. Everyone over two will be required to wear a mask in public places.

All of this begs the question: Will Covid parties be all the rage when students come back to campus and cause massive issues for universities and ultimately end the college football season? Even with hospitalizations and death numbers what they are for people in their 20s, Covid raging around a campus would be a major issue for Alabama or any college football program. Parents get freaked out. Athletes start thinking about ramifications. Things start to snowball. The mayor of Tuscaloosa has already said a season without football could cost the city $2 billion.

Students in Tuscaloosa might want to cut back on the Covid parties. Maybe build a campfire and sit in a circle and crush beers. Just Say No to Covid parties and yes to a college football season.












Written by
Joe Kinsey is the Senior Director of Content of OutKick and the editor of the Morning Screencaps column that examines a variety of stories taking place in real America. Kinsey is also the founder of OutKick’s Thursday Night Mowing League, America’s largest virtual mowing league. Kinsey graduated from University of Toledo.