Gov. Mark Gordon supports the reopening of the University of Wyoming football program for a limited season if it can be handled safely, he said.
Gordon, in a Facebook post and tweet, said he has spoken with the governors of other Mountain West Conference states to examine the possibility of resuming football play this year.
“I’ve had good conversations with Gov. (Brad) Little of Idaho and Gov. (Gary) Herbert of Utah about our shared desire for a safe return of Mountain West Conference football,” Gordon said. “UW Athletics is working diligently on this issue and I believe progress is being made.”
The presidents of the 12 universities that make up the Mountain West Conference agreed in August to cancel fall sports because of concerns over the coronavirus.
However, MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson, in a statement Wednesday, said a number of groups are working to find solutions to the challenges of starting the football season this fall.
Those challenges include finalizing plans for frequent rapid response testing of student athletes.
Michael Pearlman, a spokesman for Gordon, said the governor supports the idea of having players return to the field this year.
“If it can be achieved safely through the availability of frequent, rapid response testing,” Pearlman said in an email.
