If unsafe partying continues, you can probably kiss 2020 college football goodbye

You saw the pictures, watched the social media videos and heard about the carefree partying on and around Iowa State's campus last weekend.

It’s not really a sports story, but then again, it is — and the scenes of hundreds of mask-less college revelers were not just isolated to Ames. Those unhealthy and inappropriate gatherings happened in many places where college students returned to campus last weekend.

Oklahoma State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Georgia, Villanova. The list was a Who’s Who of major universities, where too many students were careless about their health and others'.

It's such a trainwreck that North Carolina canceled in-person classes after a surge of coronavirus cases among its student population.

Athletic departments at those schools, including Iowa State, have been doing their parts to start football next month. That's where sports intersects pandemic life, or as Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby wrote in a text to The Des Moines Register: “Anything that spreads the virus is an extra challenge to sports participation.”

We knew students would party on the weekend before the start of classes. It's a major part of the college experience. We hoped they’d party responsibly, but deep down, we feared otherwise. This was their VEISHEA, and, unfortunately, many acted recklessly.

“It was typical ... but with COVID happening — it was very disappointing,” Ames police commander Jason Tuttle said. “Officers were called to some (off-campus) places where 100 to 150 people were at parties.They weren’t social distancing, and some weren't wearing masks.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t look different than in the past.”

Last year, Tuttle said there were 212 calls for service on the Saturday in Ames before classes started. This year, there were 220. Last year, there were 19 arrests, and this year there were three.

“Part of that, is that we’re trying to limit who goes to Story County jail because of COVID,” Tuttle said. “We don’t want to introduce a bunch of new people into the jail.”

Iowa State administration started outlining mitigation protocols months ago, when it was determined in-person classes would be held. Protocol signs were played throughout campus and in the entertainment district.

Wear a mask. Social distance. Be safe.

It wasn't enough to curtail a weekend's events.

Here’s the university response from last weekend’s unofficial return to class festivities:

“University administrators, faculty, staff and community partners have worked diligently for the past four months to establish effective health and safety guidelines to provide students an on-campus experience. This includes requiring face coverings, practicing physical distancing and avoiding large gatherings.

“Disregarding these health and safety policies jeopardizes the university’s ability to provide in-person experiences and increases the chance that all classes will move online. If students want to complete the fall semester on campus, this disregard must stop.

“Gathering in large groups and not wearing face coverings puts the health and safety of our community at risk.The university is committed to the goal of providing an on-campus experience, and we implore all students to do their part in keeping our community healthy and campus open.”

Re-read the email, authored by senior vice-president of student affairs Toyia Younger and dean of students Sharron Evans. Look again at the words: “This disregard must stop.”

That’s terse. And appropriate.

“Sometimes, students don’t always think about long-term effects of their action,” Tuttle said. “We’re still trying to deal with power outages (from last week's derecho). Our resources are stretched pretty thin. It’s unfortunate that we’re having this conversation about the students."

We were all this age once. It's the best time of many of our lives. However, students acting carelessly is one thing ... but doing it during the coronavirus pandemic?

The scenes had to have caused heartburn for coaches and athletes at Iowa State, with the fall sports' schedule in such a fragile state as is.

Which is more important to college students: Partying or college athletics? A pretty loud vote was cast this past weekend on college campuses across the nation.

Did last weekend’s party outbreak impact coronavirus test percentages? Check back in 10 or so days. Story County's positive test percentage rose when students started returning in June and July. Percentages increased at campuses everywhere, probably.

Did what happened not only in Ames, but campuses throughout the country, impact season-opening football games planned for the first two Saturday’s in September, including the Sept. 12 Louisiana-Lafayette game against Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium?

It may have.

Only time will tell.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been writing for the Des Moines Register, where this column originally appeared, for parts of six decades. Follow him on Twitter at @RandyPete

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This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: College football: If unsafe partying continues, kiss season goodbye