Hours after the KHSAA Board of Control voted to begin full practices Monday in every sport with the intent of beginning play in the first week of September, Governor Andy Beshear said he was surprised by the vote in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board of control knew their Thursday vote would be subject to approval by the state department of education, the state board of health, and ultimately Beshear, who has used executive orders to limit different areas of the economy through the pandemic.
Beshear said he was surprised by the board’s vote to resume play on the original timeline approved by the KHSAA earlier this month.
Beshear said the ultimate goal should be to play as many games as possible and not be the first to start playing.
The governor said he would take some time to look at the KHSAA plan to return to play before giving his input.
Marshall County Schools Superintendent Trent Lovett, who represents far western Kentucky on the KHSAA Board of Control, said Thursday that if the season is delayed further or shut down, they will go somewhere else and play, whether it be another state or through club play.
Beshear said he may request some further input from KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett before deciding how to proceed.
Beshear’s comments came on a day when the state reported its third straight day of double-digit deaths linked to COVID-19. However, none of the 800+ deaths in Kentucky involve a school-aged student under the age of 30.
STORY: KHSAA VOTES TO MOVE AHEAD WITH FALL SEASON
