The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has said there will be football this fall.  But their own plan for it may mean that it will not happen.  The answer to the question “Will the Bulldogs play this year?” remains unanswered today.

Background:  Representative Cleo Fields of the House Education Committee has called upon the State Education Department to not allow sports this fall.  On Monday the committee heard from LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine on the circumstances under which contact sports could be allowed to happen.

Bonine has said it can happen but the conditions under which it could happen lead to a doubt that games will be played.

Louisiana is under Phase Two reopening.  The LHSAA has its own set of guidelines for allowing full contact sports (football and basketball) games to be played.  Under LHSAA the state needs to advance to Phase Four.  Their requirements are different from the state and federal guidelines, which only go up to Phase Three.

Red River residents may have some more definitive answers after the Red River Parish School Board meets Thursday afternoon.  Superintendent Alison Hughes is preparing to brief the board on school reopening.  That includes how the parish will educate children this fall, and when, and where. 

And unfortunately everything has to be tentative.  The future depends upon the spread of the COVID-19 virus and if the spread can be showed in the state of Louisiana.