COVID-19 pandemic having emotional toll on parents wanting to support college athletes

PITTSBURGH — Shivaun Morrissey proudly wore her Pitt shirt and a smile, but she admitted it’s been tough.

“It’s heartbreaking not to be in the stands,” Morrissey said. “But I’m grateful Jimmy and his teammates are able to play.”

Jimmy, Morrissey’s son, is Pitt’s starting center, and a semifinalist for college football’s top scholar-athlete. She said she’d do whatever it takes to be in the stadium to watch him play.

“Whatever needs to happen for social distancing, I think Heinz Field would be able to accommodate parents in that way,” Morrissey said. “Whatever precautions they would like me to take, I’d be happy to do that.”

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Senior wide receiver Tre Tipton’s mom, Kim, agrees.

“The stadium is so big. I’ll sit anywhere in the stadium. I don’t care if I’m 20 seats away from the next person. It’s big enough to let the parents in,” Tipton said.

Tipton son’s is a fifth-year senior. The Apollo graduate has overcome countless injuries and is about to get his master’s degree. He came back to Pitt football for one more year to be a hometown hero.

“It’s been really hard for us because we’ve been there for five years and this is probably going to be his last year. I think that’s the hardest part, not having us there supporting him,” Tipton said.

Like a lot of college and pro teams, Pitt has played three home games without fans. Before the season, Central Catholic and Pitt senior star safety Damar Hamlin said his parents have come to every game he’s played for the last ten years. His fellow Central Catholic alum, Pitt senior long-snapper Cal Adomitis, said this week he would love for his family to be in the stands.

Still, many out-of-town parents still are coming to Pittsburgh anyway, just to spend time with their sons after the games. They’re coming from Arizona, South Carolina, Philadelphia, Massachusetts and Ohio. Senior quarterback Kenny Pickett’s parents come every week from New Jersey.

At the start of the season Pickett said, “It’s definitely tough. I wish they would let family members come to the game. It’s a 70,000 seat stadium. I think they could be six feet apart from each other. But it is what it is.”

Parents did get some hope this week. On the Fan Morning Show, Pitt Athletic Director Heather Lyke said she’s hoping for up to 20% capacity in the stands this week. That was before an appeal court upheld Governor Tom Wolf’s restrictions limiting crowds of 250 or less at outdoor events. Still, Pitt representatives confirmed to Channel 11 that the university has a meeting with the state on Friday.

That’s too much uncertainty for senior defensive lineman Rashad Weaver’s mother. Autumn DeLaPorte lives in Florida.

“I’m being torn as a mom here. Do I just go ahead and purchase a plane ticket and, ‘Oh well, even if there’s no fans I’ll have the ticket,’ or do I wait until Friday and look at $800 flights? I don’t know,” DeLaPorte said.

Her son missed all of last year with an injury. Before COVID-19 hit, DeLaPorte carefully planned for his big comeback year.

“I really tried hard and was successful. I wanted to be at every game this year because it’s his senior yes,” DeLaPorte said. “I’m so proud and excited.”

All the Pitt mothers stressed they agree with safety first, and are just happy their sons are getting to play.

But the “moms” in them want to be there.

“I really miss not being able to see Jimmy and his teammates and what they’re doing, and they’re competing their tasks and everything. It’s been hard not being able to be there,” Morrisey said.

The Tipton family hopes the cheers from its large game watch party are loud enough to reach Heinz Field. Still, it’s not the same as being there.

“I’ve sat there for five years in the same section and the same seat. He knows exactly where to look. When he has a bad moment, he can look up and know that I’m telling him to shake it off and get back out there,” Tipton said. “It’s important for those kids to see we’re sitting there supporting them.”

Since our story aired, Pitt issued this statement saying no fans in the stands for Saturday’s game against NC State: “While we remain in communication with the appropriate agencies, nothing at this juncture has changed regarding our opportunities to host fans at Heinz Field.”

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Cox Media Group