SLIPPERY ROCK — One game has already disappeared from the Slippery Rock University football schedule.

There may be more — and how many fans, if any, will be allowed into Mihalik-Thompson Stadium this fall remains in question.

“So many things are up in the air right now,” SRU athletic director Paul Lueken said as collegiate sports look to return from the coronavirus pandemic.

The NCAA recently mandated that all Division II football programs shave at least one game off their 2020 schedules. A minimum of seven games must be played to be eligible for postseason play.

The reduced schedules — which also take four games off the field hockey, men's and women's hockey slates and eliminated the PSAC's fall singles and doubles tennis championships — are “financially motivated,” Lueken said.

“Some schools are really hurting,” he said. “For us, it's not so bad. I mean, we're experiencing some budget stress, but it's not catastrophic.

“We're dealing with a 10 percent reduction in the state budget.”

SRU's scheduled football game at Lock Haven has been canceled this year, leaving the team with six home games and four road contests.

The Rock's schedule was originally cut to nine games as the Sept. 5 season opener against Wayne State (Mich.) was knocked out as well. But Wayne State's opponent the following week — which would have been its home opener — pulled out of the game.

“We weren't going to start our season until Sept. 19,” SRU football coach Shawn Lutz said. “Since we had Sept. 12 open and Wayne State lost that other opponent, we just moved our game with them to that date.

“Some PSAC teams will play 10 games, some nine games, this year. A few may only play seven or eight. It's going to be different.”

Homecoming activities on campus and the 2020 SRU Athletic Hall of Fame inductions have been canceled for this year.

SRU is coming off a 13-1 season — the second best record in all of Division II — and hosted a national semifinal game. The team is listed at No. 9 in the preseason national rankings by Street and Smith and No. 11 by Lindy's Sports. No PSAC team is ranked higher.

The Rock is scheduled to begin football practice Aug. 10.

“There are safety guidelines we're supposed to follow that are based on the Division I model,” Lueken said of preseason camp. “Some of those guidelines, Division II programs like ours just don't have the facilities to do.

“The president's council meets June 30 and we're hoping those policies are adjusted.”

SRU has two players — wide receiver Henry Litwin and defensive end Chad Kuhn — named preseason All-Americans in Super Region One.

“Getting the preseason recognition is nice, but I consider us starting all over again,” Lutz said. “I know it's a coaches' cliche', but everybody is 0-0 right now.

“As a coach, I'm just worried about getting everybody on the field and getting going on time.”

Whether people are able to watch SRU football this year remains to be seen.

“If we were playing a game this Saturday, we'd be allowed 250 people in the stadium,” Lueken said. “When you factor in the rosters of both teams, coaching staffs and the band, that would mean no fans in the stands.

“Our band is already practicing social distancing. They still want to be a part of this.”

As does the community.

“We're hoping that by the time the season opens, we'll be allowed 50 percent capacity in the stadium,” Lueken said. “If we get to that point, most of the people who want to come watch us play will be able to do so.

“We'll await the governor's word on that. I'm sure schools like Penn State are anxiously awaiting, too.”