Jimmy Lake not ruling out eventual spring practice for UW Huskies
It won’t happen in April as originally planned, but Washington head coach Jimmy Lake isn’t ruling out the possibility of spring practice.
Due to the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, UW already canceled all athletic-related activities and events through the end of the spring quarter on June 5. The Pac-12 also announced a suspension of organized athletic activities through May 31.
But Lake, in his first season at the helm, is a self-described optimist. He hopes his team will be able to resume activities within the next 45-60 days. And if that’s the case, the Huskies would still have a chance to fit in its 15 spring practices.
“If this thing gets all the way to training camp, obviously, we wouldn’t be able to do anything like that, and we’d just have to have training camp with the rest of the FBS and FCS,” Lake said during a teleconference with reporters on Tuesday. “To really answer your question, I’m still very hopeful. I’m very optimistic.”
If the Huskies don’t have time to fit in spring practice before August, Lake said he wouldn’t push for extra fall practices.
“If we started training camp the way we normally start training camp, I think that almost 30 days is gonna be good enough,” Lake said. “I think we can keep the schedule exactly the way it is. We are always constantly trying to keep our team healthy throughout that 30 days of training camp. Every practice is crucial, but I think 30 days will be enough.
“I think back to the old days when football wasn’t 12 months a year. People used to show up to training camp, and you used to get in shape for the first two weeks. And then, the final two weeks, you’re kind of dialed in on the scheme and then the season began. That’s how it used to be.
“I think as long as everybody in the whole country is on the same schedule, we’ll start August 5, and it is what it is. And now it’s going to be, which coaches are very clever in how they get their team prepared in those 30 days.”
While the idea has been floated, Lake hasn’t let himself consider the possibility that the season could be postponed or even canceled.
“The way I look at this right now, in my mind, in some time, maybe early June, middle of June, we’re gonna get back to being all together here and start practicing and getting back to some normalcy,” Lake said. “But that’s just how my mind works. I’m not a doctor. I’m not a professional. I don’t know if that’s the certain date or not, but that’s just the way my mind works.
“Obviously, if we’re under the same conditions we are right now leading up into August, then maybe I would share the concern. But at this point, I think we’re going to have a season and it’s going to be a memorable one because everyone is going to be ready for some football.”
This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 5:15 PM.
