College football during the pandemic

10/01/20 • 30 min

Football is a cherished sport in South Carolina. Whether you're a Tigers or a Gamecocks fan, it's no secret that the 2020 season will be unlike any other.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, at one point it was unclear if there would even be college football in 2020. Now, Clemson's team has played two games, the University of South Carolina's has played one, but game day looks very different from what either team is used to.

Typically packed stadiums are mostly empty, and the fans who are there are seated in socially-distanced "pods." Tailgating is prohibited, and face masks are required.

And, for the first time since 1909, the Gamecocks and the Tigers won't face off this season. The rivalry was the second-longest uninterrupted streak in the U.S.

This week we spoke with USC sports reporter David Cloninger and Clemson sports reporter Joshua Needelman about how this unprecedented season is going so far.

Because of the pandemic, teams have seen changes in how they travel, how many fans can attend games and eligibility.

Listen now to learn more.

Football is a cherished sport in South Carolina. Whether you're a Tigers or a Gamecocks fan, it's no secret that the 2020 season will be unlike any other.

Typically packed stadiums are mostly empty, and the fans who are there are seated in socially-distanced "pods." Tailgating is prohibited, and face masks are required.

And, for the first time since 1909, the Gamecocks and the Tigers won't face off this season. The rivalry was the second-longest uninterrupted streak in the U.S.

This week we spoke with USC sports reporter David Cloninger and Clemson sports reporter Joshua Needelman about how this unprecedented season is going so far.

Because of the pandemic, teams have seen changes in how they travel, how many fans can attend games and eligibility.

Listen now to learn more.

Previous Episode

State logs over 3,000 COVID deaths, hospital workers feel 'spiritual toll'

South Carolina and the United States recently reached grim milestones in the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of last week, coronavirus deaths in South Carolina had surpassed 3,000, and the U.S. death toll had exceeded 200,000 by Tuesday.

The pandemic reached South Carolina more than six months ago, when the first confirmed cases in the state were identified on March 6. After that, the virus started to steadily spread to all 46 counties.

Communities closed and then reopened. By the middle of the summer, the state had emerged as a hotspot for the virus, logging more than 2,000 new cases in a single day.

This week, we talked with projects editor Glenn Smith who has kept a daily log throughout the pandemic. Those entries were used to create a timeline of key moments during in the health crisis.

We also spoke with Rickey Dennis, who reports on religious communities in the Charleston area, about the role of local hospitals' chaplains during the pandemic. He explained how the demand for their support has gone up as hospital workers grapple with the spiritual toll it takes to support patients who have limited visitors because of the pandemic.

Because of restrictions put in place to help prevent the spread of the virus, hospital caretakers are often the only persons present when a patient dies from COVID-19.

Chaplains are also in a unique position, Dennis explained, as they're more needed than ever but have to find ways to provide comfort while practicing social distancing and utilizing technology.

Listen now to learn more.

The most up-to-date information on COVID-19 cases and deaths in South Carolina can be found on our COVID-19 dashboard.

Next Episode

Rising cost of living in Charleston

It's probably not surprising that the Charleston area is the most expensive place in the state for low-income individuals to live.

But how much, exactly, does it cost to make ends meet here?

We talked to reporter Andrew Brown about a study done by the University of Washington and released last week by Trident United Way that lays out how much individuals and families in Charleston County and other parts of the state need to make to pay for basic necessities.

Reporter Fleming Smith also joined us to talk about some of the challenges women in the Charleston region face when they're unable to find affordable housing and experience homelessness.

Both stories are particularly relevant right now, as so many South Carolina families are struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic that has driven unemployment claims to historically high levels and clearly revealed economic disparities in our communities.
Listen now to learn more.

You can find the full United Way report here and learn about contributing to Walking Women Welfare here.