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Postponed Big Ten Season Leaves James Franklin Seeking Answers
State College (93.7 The Fan) – In the week since the Big Ten pulled the plug on the fall football season, Penn State coach James Franklin has been unable to answer many questions from his players and their parents. And that, more than anything, has left Franklin frustrated.
“When the decision was actually being made, it caught a lot of people off guard,” Franklin said. “At that time, we felt things were going pretty good. We felt we were going to make this thing work, and things changed quickly.”
Commenting publicly for the first time since the conference’s controversial decision, Franklin took exception with how it came about.
“I don’t necessarily have an issue with the decision, but I have an issue with the process and an issue with the timing. It was challenging to keep getting up in front of my team and getting up in front of my parents and not having answers to their questions. If we were going to make the decision to delay the season, we should have taken the time to have all the answers for what that’s going to mean for eligibility, scholarships, the next opportunity to play. What does that mean to roster management and incoming recruits?”
Franklin said everyone associated with the program sacrificed to make a season work once the team convened for training camp. There wasn’t a single positive COVID-19 test during the first week.
August 19, 2020
For Now, Bears Have No Plans To Welcome Fans
(670 The Score) The Bears don't currently plan to welcome fans to their home games at Soldier Field when the regular season begins, the team announced Monday evening. They left open the possibility that fans could be allowed if the health and safety outlook improves amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bears and city of Chicago reached the decision, citing local COVID-19 health metrics. The Bears are set to host the Giants in their home opener on Sept. 20.
"The Chicago Bears, Soldier Field’s management partner, ASM Global, the Chicago Park District and public health officials have worked together to assess whether a responsible plan that follows city, state, CDC and NFL guidelines could be developed to safely accommodate a limited number of fans at Soldier Field this season," a team statement said.
"After discussing a draft plan with city health officials, the Bears and the City of Chicago agreed the health metrics show that it is not the right time to welcome fans back to Soldier Field. The health and safety of the city’s residents and fans of the Bears will always take priority. The team and city will continue to monitor the environment and believe there can be a sound plan in place to bring fans back to Soldier Field once it is deemed safe and appropriate. Until then, Bears home games will not include in-person fans."
The state of Illinois is currently allowing up to 20% capacity for outdoor venues, which would include Soldier Field. However, the city of Chicago hasn't given such approval on that front.
On Monday, the Chiefs announced they'll welcome fans at a reduced capacity of around 22% into Arrowhead Stadium in 2020. Kansas City hosts Houston in the NFL season opener on Sept. 10.
Chicago opens its season at Detroit on Sept. 13.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
August 17, 2020
NHL Remains COVID-19 Free for Third Straight Week of Bubble Play
In its third week in the Edmonton and Toronto bubbles for the Return To Play plan, the National Hockey League has had zero positive COVID-19 cases.
The league gave its weekly testing update for COVID-19 on Monday and said that there were no positive test results out of 5,640 tests administered. This testing period went from Sunday, Aug. 9 to Saturday, Aug. 15.
NHL statement on COVID-19 testing results: pic.twitter.com/0WL9yTIa6e— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) August 17, 2020The last time the NHL announced it had any positive COVID-19 cases among its players and staff was back for the week of July 13 through July 17 when the league had just two positive cases in the opening week of Phase 3 of the league's Return To Play plan.
The NHL is currently in the middle of the Quarterfinal Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is scheduled to go through Sunday, Aug. 23. Following first round action, the conferences will re-seed for the second round with the first-seeded team matching up against the lowest-seeded team and the second-highest seed facing the second lowest-seeded team.
August 17, 2020
At Least One Teammate Has Threatened to Opt Out if Indians Reinstate Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac
A quick peek at the AL Central standings would suggest the 13-9 Indians, who trail the division-leading Twins by a single game, are firing on all cylinders. Of course, looks can be deceiving. Though it has yet to affect the Tribe’s on-field product, Cleveland’s locker room finds itself in a state of disrepair stemming from the turmoil caused by starting pitchers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac, who were both quarantined and subsequently demoted for breaking curfew during the team’s recent trip to Chicago.
Clevinger and Plesac, who seemed less than apologetic for eschewing the league’s COVID protocols (Plesac exacerbated the situation with an ill-advised rant on Instagram, calling out the media for framing him as a villain), have drawn the ire of teammates, who expressed their frustration in what ESPN’s Jeff Passan described as a “testy” team meeting held Friday. Per Passan, the anger in the room was “palpable” with one player—veteran reliever Oliver Perez—threatening to opt out if and when Clevinger and Plesac are reinstated. Though both tested negative for the virus, Clevinger and Plesac put their teammates including fellow starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco—who battled Leukemia as recently as last year—at risk of infection. That carelessness and seeming lack of remorse exhibited by Clevinger and Plesac clearly didn’t sit well with teammates.
“They hurt us bad. They lied to us,” said Adam Plutko, who was promoted when Clevinger and Plesac were optioned to the team’s alternate site in Lake County, where they will remain for at least 10 days. Perennial All-Star Francisco Lindor was similarly outspoken, alluding to Clevinger and Plesac in comments made last week. “We have to look ourselves in the mirror. And it’s not about the person we see in the mirror. It’s who's behind you.”
Francisco Lindor, on Mike Clevinger, Zach Plesac and being selfless: pic.twitter.com/njXpjQEqR8— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) August 11, 2020Beyond the atmosphere of tension in Cleveland’s broken clubhouse, Clevinger and Plesac’s uncertain standing with the team could also have significant financial ramifications. If Clevinger’s demotion lasts longer than 19 days, his service time would be affected, delaying his eventual free agency. The same goes for Plesac, who was slated to be arbitration-eligible in 2022 but, depending on the length of his demotion, may have to wait an extra year.
A faction of the team has accepted Clevinger and Plesac’s apologies, but if the damage to the locker room can’t be undone, Cleveland could look to shop one or both players ahead of the August 31 trade deadline. While that would be a worst-case scenario—Cleveland’s preference would surely be to retain both Clevinger and Plesac, a pair of talented starters on affordable contracts—there is some precedent for this. Eccentric right-hander Trevor Bauer earned a well-deserved lashing from manager Terry Francona for angrily hurling a ball into the center-field seats last season. He never made another start for the Tribe, who traded him to Cincinnati in a swap that brought Yasiel Puig to the Rock and Roll Capital.
"They sat here, in front of you guys, and said things publicly that they didn't follow through on,” said Plutko. “It's gonna’ be up to them. It really is.”
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August 17, 2020
Cardinals to Return from 17-Day COVID Hiatus with Saturday Doubleheader vs. White Sox
The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox game on Friday has been postponed and will be made up on Saturday as a doubleheader in Chicago. It comes as there's been some good news reported with no new positive tests among Cardinals players and staff within the last four days.
If the Cardinals do resume games on Saturday, the team will have gone 17 days without playing a game.
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak updated media on Thursday afternoon, announcing that one additional staff member had tested positive for COVID-19. However, the positive test happened over the weekend, Mozeliak says.
Mozeliak called this weekend the start of a "second chance" at this season and expressed some confidence on getting back to playing games this weekend.
"This is very real and we're excited about that," Mozeliak says.
To replace the 10 players that have tested positive, Mozeliak announced the callup of the organization's No. prospect in outfielder Dylan Carlson, as well as some others who will be making their debuts on a Major League roster. He also announced the return of fan-favorite and former player Jose Oquendo as third base coach for the Cardinals.
You could see Dylan Carlson make his MLB debut this weekend. John Mozeliak confirms the team's No. 1 overall prospect has been added to the #STLCards roster in St. Louis— KMOXSports (@KMOXSports) August 14, 2020The Cardinals will be traveling on Friday to Chicago, in a bit of a unorthodox way. They will not be taking the team charter and have instead rented "41 cars" for players and staff to drive. There's also a bus for that some players and staff who "were not a part of the quarantine" that will ride on.
MLB is expected to release an update of changes to the Cardinals schedule on Friday.
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August 13, 2020
With Assist from LeBron James, Dodger Stadium to Serve as Voting Center For 2020 Election
Dodger Stadium will be a Vote Center for the 2020 Presidential General Election in November.
There will be free parking to any registered voter in Los Angeles County over a five-day period, according to a press release from the LA Dodgers Thursday.
The Dodgers are the first MLB team to make their stadium available for voting.
The news was announced by the Dodgers, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, and California Secretary of State’s office.
The Dodger Stadium voting site is a joint effort between the Dodgers and More Than A Vote, a non-profit coalition of that Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James helped create. The nonprofit is Black athletes and artists working together to combat systemic, racist voter suppression.
“I may still be new to LA but didn’t take long for me to learn how special the relationship is between the Dodgers and Lakers. We are all in this together,” said LeBron James, who helped create More Than A Vote, an emailed press release. “I’m really proud we were able to help the Dodgers become the first MLB stadium to open for voting. This is exactly why we created More Than a Vote. A lot of us now working together and here for every team who wants to follow the Dodgers lead and turn their stadium into a safer place for voting.”
Dodger Stadium has been used, for the majority of this year, as the biggest COVID-19 testing site in LA County.
“Dodger Stadium is part of the fabric of Los Angeles, and we’re proud to continue to partner with the County to make the property available for the benefit of the community at large,” said Dodger President & CEO Stan Kasten in an emailed press release. “Voting is all of our civic duty, and we’re excited to work with More than a Vote to do anything we can to help get out the vote by making this process as easy, accessible and safe for all Angelenos.”
“The Los Angeles Dodgers hosting a vote center at Dodger Stadium is a home run for democracy,” Secretary of State Alex Padilla said in an emailed press release. “Civic partnerships that help us offer new and safer voting options is critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope this partnership, which is the first by a Major League Baseball team, inspires others to join us as we work to educate the public on changes to the November General Election and to identify new voting locations and poll workers.“
Thank you @Dodgers and @DAVIDprice24 for bringing MLB into this important initiative. Who got next? @Morethanavote #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/qYAUY30T3M— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 13, 2020The Dodgers, @LACountyRRCC and @CASOSvote announced today that Dodger Stadium will serve as a Vote Center for the Presidential General Election. The voting site is a joint effort between the Dodgers, @morethanavote, @KingJames and @DAVIDprice24. pic.twitter.com/F4KN6TYdQs— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2020LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COM SportsTwitter I Facebook I Instagram
August 13, 2020
Seahawks Cut Rookie for Trying to Sneak Female Visitor into Training Camp
Kemah Siverand tried to pull a fast one on the Seahawks. Spoiler: it didn’t work.
The rookie cornerback tried to sneak a woman into Seahawks training camp, a big no-no with NFL teams essentially in lockdown amid the coronavirus. Siverand reportedly went to elaborate lengths to bypass hotel security, having his female companion don Seahawks gear in hopes of blending in. Apparently Seattle wasn’t thrilled with the stunt (which was captured on hotel security footage), announcing his release Thursday, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
Undrafted out of Oklahoma State, Siverand’s odds of making the team out of camp were always slim. Committing an obvious violation of league rules made the decision that much easier. Clearly the Seahawks, who have only had to place one player on the recently instituted reserve/COVID-19 list (receiver John Ursua was briefly shelved for what turned out to be a false positive), are taking the NFL’s new safety measures seriously.
While much of the country continues to act recklessly, eschewing masks and social distancing as America’s death toll nears 200,000 (we’re already at 170,000), sports leagues have drawn a firm line in the sand, prohibiting players from any activities that would put themselves or others at risk. Trying to coup up millionaires in their 20s is no simple task, as the Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals have both discovered (not to mention Indians pitchers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac, who are still dealing with fallout from breaking quarantine in Chicago last weekend). We’re all making sacrifices right now—these are uncharted waters for all of us—but isn’t that what team sports are about, having the discipline to prioritize group needs over individual success?
Not to get preachy, but if you’re a fringe roster type, fighting and clawing to make the final 53, don’t do what Siverand just did.
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August 13, 2020
Ohio State Coach Ryan Day Hopes Big Ten Football Can Resume in January
College football is still reeling from Tuesday’s announcement from the Big Ten, the first Power Five conference to pull the plug on its fall sports season amid the coronavirus (the Pac-12 followed suit hours later). Several coaches including Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh and Penn State’s James Franklin were critical of the conference scrapping its fall football schedule, though Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren argued that the decision, while difficult, was done to preserve the health and safety of both coaches and student athletes.
So where does the Big Ten go from here? Momentum seems to be building toward a spring football campaign, though that would pose logistical challenges for players eyeing lucrative NFL careers. In the event of a spring football season, the NFL would undoubtedly be forced to alter its league calendar to accommodate the class of 2021. Unfortunately, the league doesn’t offer a ton of leeway in that respect. Per the collective bargaining agreement (which has already been amended once to address COVID concerns), the NFL can stage its draft no later than June 2. That would obviously be much later than usual (the 2020 Draft took place April 23-25), but maybe not late enough for incoming rookies, depending on when the Big Ten decides to hold its season.
As you might expect, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day had plenty to say on the matter, sharing his thoughts in Wednesday’s media availability. Day, who fell to 16-1 as head coach following the Buckeyes’ loss to Clemson in January’s College Football semifinals, wants football to return as soon as possible. In fact, the 41-year-old is advocating for an unprecedented winter football season.
Clear from Ryan Day's comments that he wants to put the focus on the spring. "We need to start it as soon as we can." He wants an 8-week season the first week of January. Says it will give separation with the fall and that early entry recruits can get two (seasons) this year.— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 12, 2020While Day’s proposal would offer certain benefits—outgoing players should have enough time to prepare for the draft, or whatever else awaits them after college football, with a January start date—it ignores other factors like weather (Ann Arbor and Madison don’t offer the most inviting winter climates) and the continued uncertainty surrounding COVID (who knows if we’ll have a vaccine by then). Day is understandably wary of losing Heisman candidate Justin Fields to the NFL Draft. Many draft-eligible talents have opted out of bowl games in recent years to avoid injury and though Fields fits the profile of a player who’d pursue that path, an accelerated start date could improve Day’s chances of keeping the 21-year-old in Columbus, at least for another few months.
Ryan Day on the future of Justin Fields: "I think Justin wants to see what the schedule is." Day said its "our job" so "someone like Justin can plan...his next few months." Day mentions report that the NFL could push the draft back. Day wants to start the spring in early Jan.— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 12, 2020Tuesday’s announcement by the Big Ten seemed pretty definitive, though Day is still holding out hope for a fall football slate, as small a possibility as that may be.
Ryan Day on trying to play this fall: "It's a fluid situation. We're looking at everything. I can promise you that."— billlandis25 (@BillLandis25) August 12, 2020Like all of us, Day sounds like a man who desperately misses college football. Unfortunately, as the NCAA and other governing bodies have discovered, there are no easy solutions when it comes to navigating a colossal, unrelenting global health crisis.
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August 12, 2020
Big 12 Will Proceed With Fall Sports, Releases 2020 Football Schedule
Despite decisions made in recent days by the Big Ten and the Pac-12 to cancel their fall sports seasons, the Big 12 announced on Wednesday that they plan to proceed with theirs.
According to a statement from the official website of the Big 12, the conference's board of directors came to an agreement Tuesday night and came up with a plan on how to go about holding various sports. September 1 marks the start date for these contests.
The official schedule for Big 12 football was released on Twitter following the announcement.
A 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 delivery for #Big12FB fans‼️Your first look at the 2⃣0⃣2⃣0⃣ Conference schedule ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/1W00A3EYuM— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) August 12, 2020Members of Big 12 schools will undergo "enhanced" coronavirus testing by taking three tests per week if they play sports like football and soccer, where contact is more likely. As part of the enhanced testing process, anyone who tests positive will undergo thorough testing using blood tests, MRIs and more. If an out-of-conference school is set to play against a Big 12 school, they too must abide by conference rules for a week leading up to the game.
Big 12 Board of Directors Chairman Victor Boschini commented that the health of student-athletes remains the top priority and will guide all decision-making, and it is the "Board's collective opinion" that the conference can follow through on athletes' desires to play by creating a safe way to do so in concordance with health professionals.
"If at any point our scientists and doctors conclude that our institutions cannot provide a safe and appropriate environment for our participants, we will change course," Boschini added.
Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby also spoke on the matter.
🚨 Fall sports update from @Big12Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby.➡️ https://t.co/1guHAHmzzW pic.twitter.com/rMR4XFgRQG— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) August 12, 2020Related:- Louisville Head Coach Says ACC Will Move Forward With Football Season Despite Big Ten, Pac-12 Decisions- NFL Agent Drew Rosenhaus: College Football Will Be a 'Week-to-Week Deal'- Trevor Lawrence Leads College Football Players Rejecting Rumored Shutdown: #WeWantToPlay
August 12, 2020
Washington Football Team Announces No Fans at FedExField to Begin 2020 Season
The majority of NFL teams have announced that there will be a significantly reduced capacity at their fields and stadiums throughout the 2020 season, but there are some who are pulling the plug on that idea altogether.
The Raiders announced that they would not allow any fans at their home games in 2020, which, coincidentally, is the same year in which they were set to move into the brand-new Allegiant Stadium. Other teams, such as the Eagles and the Jets/Giants, play in cities where executive orders have prevented sizable outdoor gatherings to this point.
Now, the Washington Football Team has made their decision regarding fans official, as well.
Washington Football Team To Kick Off 2020 Season Without Fans At FedExFieldhttps://t.co/UjDoaabopE— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) August 12, 2020Owner Dan Snyder announced his reasoning for such a move in a statement released on Wednesday morning (via Washington Football Team official website).
"We are fortunate to host the best fans in the NFL year after year, but the well-being of those supporters, along with that of our players, coaches and each and every member of our gameday staff is simply too important, and the current knowledge of COVID-19 too unpredictable, to welcome our fan base to FedExField to start the season. We were the first team in the league to recall our scouts and other personnel from the field back in mid-March and have been monitoring this evolving situation ever since. This decision was not an easy one, but after several discussions with federal, state and local officials – along with input from some of the nation's foremost medical experts, based right here in the nation's capital – we are confident that it is the right one. We are working to find ways to make our fans' presence felt in new and innovative ways for 2020 and can't wait to welcome the community through the gates as soon as it's safe."
However, the team also mentioned that the decision will be re-evaluated by team executives, health officials, and other parties to determine whether or not fans can come to games if conditions improve. There have been 12,896 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Washington, D.C. to this point, with 89 new cases on August 10. There have been 593 deaths.
Though the decision is undoubtedly a smart and prudent one, it still had its fair share of Twitter users poking fun at the lack of attendance.
Talk about a set up line... https://t.co/yoxxqFeVwG— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) August 12, 2020Too... many... jokes... Must... resist 😬 https://t.co/M5SlgDhT7J— Neil Reynolds (@neilreynoldsnfl) August 12, 2020When sorting 2019 team attendance by the percentage of stadium capacity that was filled on average, Washington was the third-lowest (79.9%), trailed only by Tampa Bay and Cincinnati (via ESPN).
The Eagles, set to play against Washington in Week 1, will now play at least their first three games without fans, with the outlook in San Francisco for Week 4 looking bleak due to how hard the Bay Area was hit by coronavirus.
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August 12, 2020
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