UTEP football players return to campus for voluntary workouts
EL PASO, Texas -- The UTEP Miners began the process this week of trying to get back to football during the era of Covid-19.
Monday, members of the football team returned to campus for voluntary workouts.
As of now only around 45 members of the team are allowed to train at UTEP facilities.
That number will grow in the coming weeks, and athletes from other sports will be allowed to return as well.
As of now only members of the football team are allowed to train on campus.
Players must undergo a wellness screening before they are allowed inside, and they must wear a face mask at all times while indoors.
Only 15 athletes are allowed per group, and some coaches and staff members are not allowed to interact with players during their workout.
This includes UTEP head coach, Dana Dimel.
Dimel says while players are allowed to finally workout on campus, additional training continues via virtual video chats.
"We are not able to watch the workouts, but of course I can see them and say hello to them and see their face for the first time in a long time so I've been able to that," Dimel said.
Dimel says it's important they follow all safety regulations if they want football to return in the fall.
"As a coach you just have to be very patient and you have to be very reactive to what's happening right now," Dimel said. "Obviously safety is the number one factor because if you're not safe, you're going to take one step forward three steps backward and we can't afford to do that."
Only one UTEP player has tested positive for covid-19 and that happened back in April when the UTEP campus had already closed.
If everything goes according to plan, UTEP will kick-off their season September 5th against Texas Tech at the Sun Bowl.
"The kids like it, they like that they're back," Dimel said. "They like that we're taking safety precautions for them because they know that it's getting them closer to playing the game."
