WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — As sports fans wait to see if the 2020 NCAA football season actually kicks off, some schools aren’t willing to wait to make the decisions for fall sports during the coronavirus pandemic.

The complex decisions on every campus across the country were simple for one conference. The same conference that acted swiftly back in March once again moved with purpose this summer.

Leaving Indianapolis for the Ivy League is a feat few conquer. Add a sport to the coursework? The field shrinks again. But, for the remainder of 2020, Indianapolis’ Ivy student-athletes won’t compete on the field.

“We had a team meeting with all our coaches, all our trainers, everybody on staff, and all the players,” said former North Central High School football standout and current Brown University cornerback Harrison Ochs. “Then, they broke the news.”

“I actually found out on social media first, via an ESPN push alert,” said former Cathedral High School All-State tight end Haven Montefalco. “Then the email (from the school) came five seconds after.”

Montefalco, the Fighting Irish’s top pass-catching threat from the fall of 2018, was planning on making his first highlights for the Harvard offense this fall following spending the entirety of his freshman season on the sideline. 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country at his new home in Seattle, a former Zionsville High School star runner contemplates his academic and athletic future this summer.

“It wasn’t a surprise, but it was still more painful than I expected it to be,” said Dartmouth runner Isaac Weber. “I decided to take a gap year because of the circumstances.”

Back home, Brebeuf soccer’s impressive midfielder is ready to ship out to continue her career at Cornell. Instead, it appears her freshman season, at best, will consist of a few exhibition matches this spring.

“I was really sad, of course, I mean, the athlete in me wants to compete,” said Big Red freshman Sophia Weeter. “I was so excited, I had finally committed to Cornell, I had my dream school.”

On March 10, during the the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ivy League was the first NCAA Division I conference to cancel its men’s and women’s basketball postseason tournaments.

Now, we wait to see who will follow and cancel a portion or all athletic events ahead of 2021. 

As of Monday, the list of leagues to do so is approaching double digits, leaving a group of student-athletes across the country suddenly bonded together by these decisions. With no games, what is allowed for these players on campus this fall?

“We are limited to conditioning and lifting in small groups,” Ochs said. “Film study is still going to be a major part of our prepping for next year.”

The season of patience and perspective are the only avenue in the eyes of the Ivy League.

Coronavirus links

Indiana coronavirus timeline

With updated information from the Indiana Department of Health on Aug. 2, this timeline reflects updated tallies of deaths and positive tests prior to that date.

• March 6: Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) confirms the first case in Indiana. Officials say the Marion County resident had recently traveled to Boston to attend a BioGen conference as a contractor.
• March 8: ISDH confirms a second case. An adult in Hendricks County who had also traveled to the BioGen conference was placed in isolation. Noblesville Schools say a parent and that parent’s children will be self-quarantining after attending an out-of-state event where someone else tested positive.
• March 9: Avon Community School Corp. says a student on March 8 tested positive.
• March 10: ISDH launches an online tracker. Ball State University basketball fans learn the Mid-American Conference tourney will have no fans in the stands. Three businesses operating nursing homes in Indiana announce they will no longer allow visitors.
• March 11: The Indianapolis-based NCAA announces the Final Four basketball tournaments will be conducted with essential staff and limited family attendance. The Big Ten announces all sports events, including the men’s basketball tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, will have no fans starting March 12. Ball State University suspends in-person classes the rest of the spring semester. NBA suspends all games, including the Indiana Pacers, until further notice. Butler University and the University of Indianapolis extend spring break, after which they will have virtual classes.
• March 12: Gov. Eric Holcomb announces new protections that led to extended public school closings and the cancellation of large events across the state. The NCAA cancels its basketball tournaments. The Big Ten suspends all sporting events through the winter and spring seasons. The league including the Indy Fuel hockey team suspends its season. Indy Eleven says it will reschedule four matches. Indianapolis’ annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is canceled. 
• March 13: The Indiana High School Athletic Association postpones the boys basketball tournament. Wayzata Home Products, a Connersville cabinet maker, shuts down and lays off its entire workforce due to market uncertainty. Gov. Holcomb announces actions including the elimination of Medicaid co-pays for COVID-19 testing and the lifting of limits on the number of work hours per day for drivers of commercial vehicles. Franklin College says it will begin online classes March 18 and empty residence halls of students in two days. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis closes indefinitely. The Indianapolis Public Library joins other libraries across Indiana and closes all facilities indefinitely.
• March 14: The Indiana Gaming Commission says all licensed gaming and racing operations will close in two days for an indefinite period.
• March 15: Indiana had its first death. St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis announces it will suspend all elective, non-urgent surgeries.
• March 16: Indiana had its second death. Gov. Holcomb announced the first Hoosier death. He closes bars, restaurants and nightclubs to in-person patrons, but maintains carryout and delivery services.
• March 17: Indiana had its third and fourth deaths. ISDH announces Indiana’s second death. Indiana’s Catholic bishops cancel masses indefinitely. Gov. Holcomb activates the National Guard. Purdue, Butler and Indiana State universities cancel May commencement ceremonies.
• March 18: Indiana had its fifth death. Eli Lilly and Co. says it will use its labs to speed up testing in Indiana. The 500 Festival announces suspends all events. Simon Property Group closes all malls and retail properties.
• March 19: Gov. Holcomb extends Indiana’s state of emergency into May. Holcomb says he’ll close all K-12 public and nonpublic schools. Standardized testing was canceled. The state’s income-tax and corporate-tax payment deadline was extended to July 15. Holcomb says the state will waive job search requirements for people applying for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. The IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament was canceled. The Marion County Emergency Operations Center upgrades to Level 1 status.
• March 20: Indiana’s death toll rose to 9. ISDH announces Indiana’s third death. Gov. Holcomb moves the state’s primary election to June 2. Indiana University says it is postponing May commencement ceremonies on all campuses.
• March 21: Indiana’s death toll rises to 14. ISDH announces Indiana’s fourth death. Indiana National Guard says it and the Department of Transportation are distributing medical supplies to hospitals.
• March 22: Indiana’s death toll rises to 19. ISDH announces seven deaths.
• March 23: Indiana’s death toll rises to 24. Holcomb orders Hoosiers deemed nonessential to “stay at home” from March 24-April 7. Eli Lilly & Co. begins drive-thru testing for the coronavirus for health care workers with a doctor’s order. Ball State University cancels the May commencement.
• March 24: Indiana’s death toll rises to 29. Fred Payne of Indiana Workforce Development says any Hoosiers out of work, including temporary layoffs, are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits.
• March 25: Indiana’s death toll rises to 35. Indianapolis Motor Speedway announces the Indianapolis 500 is moved to Aug. 23. IndyGo suspends fares and changes its ride schedules.
• March 26: Indiana’s death toll rises to 44.
• March 27: Indiana’s death toll rises to 47.
• March 28: Indiana’s death toll rises to 58.
• March 29: Indiana’s death toll rises to 76. President Donald Trump announces in a press conference that the national social distancing recommendation will be extended by 30 days.
• March 30: Indiana’s death toll rises to 91. Indiana health commissioner Dr. Kristina Box predicts the arrival of the surge in cases and deaths could come in mid-April to late April, but could be as late as mid-May, “but we don’t know.”
• March 31: Indiana’s death toll rises above 100, to 113. Gov. Holcomb extends the limits of bars and restaurants to offer only “to go” and “carryout” through April 6. Health commissioner Box, asked about when Indiana will be in a surge of COVID-19 cases, says she thinks the surge is starting.
• April 1: Officials extend Marion County’s “stay at home” order through May 1. Marion County health officials say they will start COVID-19 testing services for front-line employees.
• April 2: The state announces K-12 schools will be closed for the rest of the school year. The Indiana High School Athletic Association cancels spring sports seasons.
• April 3: Gov. Holcomb extends the “stay at home” order through April 20. The state receives a federal Major Disaster Declaration for all 92 counties. The Indiana National Guard says it, the Army Corps of Engineers and state health officials will begin to assess sites for alternate health care facilities.
• April 4: Indiana’s death toll rises above 200.
• April 6: The state reports a Madison County nursing home has had 11 deaths. Gov. Holcomb extends the “stay at home” order through April 20. He also limits additional businesses to carry-out only.
• April 7: Indiana’s death toll rises above 300. Indiana health commissioner Box says four long-term care facilities have 22 deaths that appear to be related to COVID-19.
• April 10: ISDH said 24 residents of a long-term care facility in Madison County have died from COVID-related illness.
• April 11: Indiana’s death toll rises above 400.
• April 14: Indiana’s death toll rises above 500.
• April 16: Indiana records more than 10,000 positive coronavirus tests. The governor says he expects Indiana to experience a reopening in early May.
• April 17: Indiana’s death toll rises above 600. The governor says that he will extend the “stay at home” order through May 1.
• April 20: Indiana’s death toll rises above 700. Gov. Holcomb extends the “stay at home” order to May 1. The governor also says, if the medical supply chain is in good shape, other elective medical procedures can resume April 27.
• April 22: Indiana’s death toll rises above 800. The Tyson facility in Logansport voluntarily closes so 2,200 employees can be tested for COVID-19.
• April 24: Indiana’s death toll rises above 900. The Indianapolis City-County Council approves $25 million to help small businesses. Fishers City Council creates a city health department with a plan to test every resident.
• April 25: ISDH says it will launch an antibody testing study for Hoosiers; thousands of residents were randomly selected to participate in the study.
• April 27: Indiana’s death toll rises above 1,000.
• April 28: Indiana officials say they will open COVID-19 testing to more Hoosiers, with expanded criteria and new testing services at 20 sites around the state.
• April 29: The state says it will spent $43 million on contact tracing.
• April 30: Indianapolis extends its stay-at-home order through May 15.
• May 1: Gov. Holcomb announces a phased reopening plan for the state of Indiana. He also extends the stay-at-home order to May 4.
• May 3: Indiana records more than 20,000 positive coronavirus tests.
• May 4: Indiana enters Stage 2 of its Back on Track plan, which excludes Cass County until May 18, and Lake and Marion counties until May 11.
• May 6:The state begins testing for all Hoosiers at 20 sites, with plans to expand the number of sites to 50 in a week. Ivy Tech Community College says it will continue virtual classes when summer courses begin in June. 
• May 8: Cris Johnston, director of the Office of Budget and Management, says the state missed out on nearly $1 billion in anticipated April revenues; all state agencies will be given budget-cutting goals. Purdue University OKs plans to reopen for the fall semester with social distancing and other safety measures.
• May 10: Indiana’s death toll rises above 1,500.
• May 13: Indiana’s death toll rises above 1,600.The first phase of a state-sponsored study of the coronavirus estimated about 186,000 Hoosiers had COVID-19 or the antibodies for the novel virus by May 1. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced plans for limited reopenings of worship services, retail establishments, libraries and restaurants.
• May 16: Indiana’s death toll rises above 1,700.
• May 17: Marion County’s death toll rises above 500.
• May 18: Indiana reports its first case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in a child. The Farbest Foods turkey-processing plant in Huntingburg is closed for three days; 91 people have tested positive there.
• May 19: Indiana’s death toll rises above 1,800.
• May 21: Indiana records more than 30,000 positive coronavirus tests.
• May 22: Indiana advances to Stage 3 of the Back on Track reopening plan. Indianapolis closes portions of five streets to allow restaurants to reopen with outdoor dining only.
• May 23: Indiana’s death toll rises above 1,900.
• May 27: The U.S. death toll rises above 100,000. Indiana University says the fall semester will have in-person and online courses, plus an adjusted calendar through May 2021. Ball State University says the fall semester will be 13 straight weeks of in-person classes with no day off on Labor Day and no fall break.
• May 28: Indiana’s death toll rises above 2,000.
• May 29: Places of worship in Marion County can begin holding indoor services at 50% capacity with proper social distancing. Jim Schellinger, Indiana secretary of commerce, said the federal Paycheck Protection Program has made 73,430 loans in Indiana totaling $9,379,164,461, the federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan program has made 5,070 loans in Indiana totaling $445,428,500, and the federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans Advance program has made 38,365 grants in Indiana totaling $136,554,000.
• June 1: Marion County restaurants begins serving customers indoors and outdoors with 50% capacity. Marion County salons, tattoo parlors reopen by appointment only. Marion County gyms, fitness centers and pools reopen with 50% capacity and no contact sports. However, a Marion County curfew that began the night of May 31 and continued into the morning of June 3 after rioting impacted the reopening of some businesses.
• June 3: Indiana’s death toll rises above 2,100. Phase 2 of statewide testing of random Hoosiers by the Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI and the Indiana State Department of Health begins.
• June 5: Indiana reports May tax revenues were 20% short of projections made before the coronavirus closings started.
• June 8: Indiana’s death toll rises above 2,200. Indianapolis leaders agree to spend $79 million in coronavirus relief funding on contact tracing, rent relief, personal protective equipment and support for small businesses.
• June 12: Indiana, excluding Marion County, advances to Stage 4 of reopening plan.
• June 14: Indiana’s death toll rises above 2,300.
• June 15: Casinos and parimutuel racing reopen in the state.
• June 19: Marion County advances to Stage 4 of state’s reopening plan.
• June 21: Indiana’s death toll rises above 2,400.
• June 24: The governor says the state’s moratorium on the eviction on renters will be extended through July. Indiana announces it will create a rental assistance program July 13. Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon says he has tested positive for COVID-19.
• June 27: Indiana hospitalizations for COVID-19 begin to increase, with about 33 new patients a day through July 1.
• July 1: Indiana’s death toll rises above 2,500. The governor pauses Stage 5 final reopening plan, announces Stage 4.5 from July 4-17.
• July 4: Indiana’s Stage 4.5 reopening plan begins.
• July 9: Indiana records more than 50,000 positive coronavirus tests. Marion County mandates mask wearing.
• July 10: Indianapolis Public Schools announces its reopening plans.
• July 11: Indy Eleven resumes 2020 season with victory at Lucas Oil Stadium.
• July 12: Indiana’s death toll rises above 2,600.
• July 13: Indiana begins rental assistance program for all counties but Marion County. Marion County begins its own rental assistance program.
• July 15: Indiana announces the Stage 4.5 reopening plan will continue another two weeks. The WNBA season will begin.
• July 16: Indianapolis suspends applications for its rental assistance program due to overwhelming demand.
• July 22: Indiana’s death toll rises above 2,700.
• July 23: Indiana records more than 60,000 positive coronavirus tests. MLB begins delayed season.
• July 24: Indiana records more than 61,000 positive coronavirus tests. Bars, taverns and nightclubs in Indianapolis are shut down again. City officials also return to other previous restrictions.
• July 25: Indiana records more than 62,000 positive coronavirus tests. Indiana Fever begins WNBA season after delays.
• July 27: Indiana records more than 63,000 positive coronavirus tests. Indiana governor’s order to wear face coverings begins. Great Lakes Valley Conference, which including University of Indianapolis, postpones most fall sports, including football, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball, until spring.
• July 28: Indiana records more than 64,000 positive coronavirus tests.
• July 29: Indiana records more than 65,000 positive coronavirus tests.
• July 30: Indiana records more than 66,000 positive coronavirus tests. NBA season resumes.
• July 31: Indiana records more than 67,000 positive coronavirus tests.
• Aug. 2: Indiana records more than 66,000 positive coronavirus tests.