All property owners fear any noises that go bump in the night.
 
Aside from The Miller Family. They're accustomed to such things, especially during a time where nothing has been normal. The constant banging is simply their son, Jeff, working out his throwing arm for the upcoming football season. The 6'6" quarterback has been looking forward to the 2,620-mile journey from his hometown of Murrieta, Calif. to Towson University. He's also excited to trade in the old mattress that he's fixed against his wall for target practice for a teammate to toss the ball to.
 
At the end of June, Jeff had received the news he had been waiting for: Towson Football could safely return to campus for team activities.
 
"When we found out we would be coming back to school to work out together, we couldn't get back to campus quick enough," reflects Miller. "This team is family and we had been away from each other for too long."
 
Like Jeff, many of the members of the Towson Football team had done everything they could to stay in shape during the spring and summer months, away from the athletic training facilities they were used to having access to. NCAA compliance rules restricted strength coaches from actively administering workouts, but did allow coaches to distribute training programs. About half of the team had access to training equipment, while the other half was forced to be creative.
 
"Guys were lifting tires, squatting couches, basically doing anything they could to keep in shape. I was proud to see that most of the guys had made noticeable gains and had used the summer quarantine to improve. It was obvious that despite the situation, our guys did everything they could to get better."
 
While the team was back on campus, they were still extremely limited in what they could do. "Even move-in day lost its luster," says Jeff. "We were excited to be back, but it was weird and disappointing not to be able to see my brothers right away. We were all following the strict protocols for social distancing under the guidance of our training staff, so I had to move in by myself. But, we all wanted to play a season so badly we were willing to do whatever it took to be able to play."
 
For perhaps the first time in 2020, things looked promising. The team was making their way back to campus to start summer training camp and Towson University as a whole was rolling out a "ReTUrn to TU" action plan. Then, on July 8^th, the Ivy League dropped the bomb the sports industry was fearing: the league decided to cancel football and fall sports due to COVID-19. The league previously became the first conference to cancel its men's and women's basketball tournament during the spring shutdowns. It seemed once again that the first domino had fallen. On July 17, as anticipated, the CAA and Towson Athletics made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the 2020 season for all fall sports, affecting Towson's cross country, field hockey, soccer, volleyball and football programs.
 
Despite the news, Jeff and a few of his teammates remained in student housing until the beginning of the semester. Regardless of where they were relocated, Towson Football continued to virtually meet as a team.
 
"Not having a season hit us all hard. Sports may just be a game to some, but for us at this level, our sport is a major part of our lives," says Jeff. "In a sense, by not having it we all lose a part of ourselves. Our coaches have heard our frustrations and have really become our main support system by talking us through these difficult times, helping us to come out of this stronger than ever."
 
Like Towson's student-athletes, the university worked tirelessly to prepare the campus and classes for a much-lower-density return of students in compliance with local, state and federal health and safety guidelines. Prior to returning to campus, all students had to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR test.
 
The fall semester began on August 24, with 85% of instruction online and less than 50% occupancy in residence halls. Meanwhile, the university had been collaborating with local medical teams to discuss a surge in positive tests and whether or not the increase in cases was due to an outbreak. It was found that the positive cases were unrelated and no common factor linked the cases. Instead, the virus was transmitted through community spread, meaning that the source of the infection is unknown. With the health and safety of TU as her highest priority, President Schatzel and TU leadership decided to move all classes to an online format.
 
And just like that, another curveball was thrown Jeff Miller's way. "Initially, I was very concerned about how it would affect our football practices and training," says Jeff. "When we heard campus was essentially shutting down, we were afraid that the opportunity to work out together would be taken away from us. We can control what we can control, but if the opportunity is completely taken away from us, there isn't much we can do."
 
Towson Athletics is fighting to keep all student-athletes in their assigned housing for the semester. Despite their fellow classmates moving out of the residence halls, all Tigers will be given the option to remain on campus to continue with the process of resocialization, a plan rolled out by the Towson Sports Medicine department. As part of the plan, student-athletes have been advised to stay on campus or in off-campus housing to avoid jeopardizing the process that has been in effect since the beginning of July. If a student-athlete travels outside of Towson, they will be required to redo aspects of the resocialization plan, which ultimately delays their return to training.
 
As it stands now, Towson Athletics can continue to move forward with their return to play protocols. Through the ups and downs and unforeseen challenges, Jeff Miller and his fellow Tigers are focused on the future.
 
"Just knowing that there will be a day when everything is back to normal and we get to put on pads and play the game that we love is motivation enough for all of us. If everything going on has taught us one thing, it is that you cannot take anything for granted, and we will never take football for granted again."
 
As the semester unfolds, new challenges will certainly arise. Towson Athletics administration, coaches and staff are committed to putting Tigers first and serving student-athletes in new ways. In an effort to educate student-athletes about the financial implications of COVID-19, members of the Tiger Athletic Fund have joined in on team meetings to explain how unseen donor support helps to keep their student-athlete experience as beneficial as ever.
 
Upon learning that fans, alumni, staff, parents as well as other members of the Towson community continue to support his Towson experience, Miller expresses his heartfelt gratitude.
 
"I want to thank everyone for their constant support to our program and to other Towson programs. We cannot see you in the stands, but we feel your support. I've enjoyed getting to know the brothers that played before us, as we have been able to talk to former players in some of our virtual meetings. I want everyone to know that we will be ready when the opportunity comes. Towson Football will be ready to win and represent Towson University in the best way possible. Our time is coming and we are preparing and getting ready, we are ready to take over the CAA and the FCS."
 
#TigersTriumph