[teejers1]

If regular students could be tested with the same intensity as football players, would we be able to restart in person classes?

Not even the same intensity of testing would be required. Vanderbilt, for example, which has a mix of in-person and Zoom classes, is doing fine with once-weekly testing of all undergrads: last week the positive rate was 0.31% (20 new infections), down from 0.46% the week before, and they have good contact tracing with quarantine housing for positives and isolation for exposeds. Housing limitations might prevent all Stanford students from returning, but surely 2 classes at a time could come. I suspect the obstacle for Stanford now is that it made its decision and it's too late to reverse it for fall quarter. I would be disappointed if they don't do something different for winter quarter. Online learning is inferior to in-person, and online socializing is inferior to socially distanced in-person.

Not just Vandy.  I've posted Notre Dame dashboard previously (and Northeastern is on it, too).  

https://here.nd.edu/our-approach/dashboard/

ND's trend looks great, particularly if you consider they are 2 weeks into home football games and in-person classes (for at least a week now).

It's a matter of will, discipline, and resources (the last of which I think most of us agree Stanford possesses).

As for the football decision, can we at least be candid and recognize that Stanford "sent the kids home" (or more directly, disallowed on campus workouts) which other schools did not do.  Thus, Stanford is the least prepared team to re-start football.  That is so Stanford, especially under this regime.  And truthfully, I don't really care whether Stanford plays or not (or whether the Pac plays at all or plays without Stanford).  Especially with Stanford lagging, I don't see how the Cardinal can have a meaningful season, nor do I see how a November 7, 2020 season start works for any teams.  

Of course, I also do not see the magic behind the December 20, 2020 "deadline" of completing the season (i.e., the day before the CFP announcement).  Maybe it has to do with all the bowls (I heard some commentators say they were happening, even if they pitted sub .500 teams against each other).  But it seems to me the Big Boys can play through the year and then pick teams.  Hell, in 2020, there are no "rules" . . . are there?

[teejers1]

If regular students could be tested with the same intensity as football players, would we be able to restart in person classes?

Not even the same intensity of testing would be required. Vanderbilt, for example, which has a mix of in-person and Zoom classes, is doing fine with once-weekly testing of all undergrads: last week the positive rate was 0.31% (20 new infections), down from 0.46% the week before, and they have good contact tracing with quarantine housing for positives and isolation for exposeds. Housing limitations might prevent all Stanford students from returning, but surely 2 classes at a time could come. I suspect the obstacle for Stanford now is that it made its decision and it's too late to reverse it for fall quarter. I would be disappointed if they don't do something different for winter quarter. Online learning is inferior to in-person, and online socializing is inferior to socially distanced in-person.

Not just Vandy.  I've posted Notre Dame dashboard previously (and Northeastern is on it, too).  

https://here.nd.edu/our-approach/dashboard/

ND's trend looks great, particularly if you consider they are 2 weeks into home football games and in-person classes (for at least a week now).

It's a matter of will, discipline, and resources (the last of which I think most of us agree Stanford possesses).

As for the football decision, can we at least be candid and recognize that Stanford "sent the kids home" (or more directly, disallowed on campus workouts) which other schools did not do.  Thus, Stanford is the least prepared team to re-start football.  That is so Stanford, especially under this regime.  And truthfully, I don't really care whether Stanford plays or not (or whether the Pac plays at all or plays without Stanford).  Especially with Stanford lagging, I don't see how the Cardinal can have a meaningful season, nor do I see how a November 7, 2020 season start works for any teams.  

Of course, I also do not see the magic behind the December 20, 2020 "deadline" of completing the season (i.e., the day before the CFP announcement).  Maybe it has to do with all the bowls (I heard some commentators say they were happening, even if they pitted sub .500 teams against each other).  But it seems to me the Big Boys can play through the year and then pick teams.  Hell, in 2020, there are no "rules" . . . are there?