Category: Baseball

Tennessee set for SEC Network takeover

Tennessee set for SEC Network takeover.

KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee will be featured on the SEC Network on March 27.

Tennessee athletics will be highlighted as the SEC Network is set to broadcast team takeover days. The announcement comes with no sports taking place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

UT coverage has not yet been announced as the SEC Network has only released the takeover daily team lineup.

SEC daily takeover schedule on SEC Network

  • Monday, March 16 – Alabama
  • Tuesday, March 17 – Arkansas
  • Wednesday, March, 18 – Auburn
  • Thursday, March 19 – Florida
  • Friday, March 20 – Georgia
  • Saturday, March 21 – Kentucky
  • Sunday, March 22 – LSU
  • Monday, March 23 – Ole Miss
  • Tuesday, March 24 – Mississippi State
  • Wednesday, March 25 – Missouri
  • Thursday, March 26 – South Carolina
  • Friday, March 27 – Tennessee
  • Saturday, March 28 – Texas A&M
  • Sunday, March 29 – Vanderbilt

Coronavirus pandemic: Greg Sankey thanks fans for ‘loyalty during these extraordinary times’

Greg Sankey thanks fans for ‘loyalty during these extraordinary times’

BIRMINGHAM — The sports world has been placed on hold during the coronavirus pandemic.

Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey issued a statement on Twitter Sunday night thanking fans for their loyalty during extraordinary times. He also discussed how student-athletes are dealing with the cancellation of games and events.

“In the past few days we have moved from the certainty of a men’s basketball tournament championship game today to a circumstance where many things in our world feel uncertain,” Sankey Tweeted. “Needless to say, this is an unprecedented experience for us all. We take very seriously each decision made related to coronavirus/COVID-19.

“We all care about sports, but we care more deeply about the people involved in our sports. For them, I can only imagine, the shock, disappointment, anger and frustration that comes from learning your season, your championship, your opportunity to be with your team, and your desire to pursue your passion have been disrupted. For our fans, thank you for your loyalty during these extraordinary times. And, please know the leadership of the Southeastern Conference, including myself, our presidents and chancellors and the SEC’s athletics directors, will consider carefully the manner in which we move forward.”

Watch: Trey Mancini Thankful for Support Post-Surgery

Saturday the Orioles outfielder released the following video on Twitter, thanking fans for all their well-wishes and messages during this tough time

Former Notre Dame baseball player and current Baltimore Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini underwent surgery this week to remove a malignant tumor from his colon. There is no word on how long he’ll be sidelined, not like that feels important at this point.

Saturday the Orioles outfielder released the following video on Twitter, thanking fans for all their well-wishes and messages during this tough time.

Mancini last played on March 2 before exiting the Orioles vs. Rays game after two at bats.

Mancini’s 35 home runs and 99 RBI in 2019 both led the Orioles.

Get well soon, 16!

Texas baseball, softball seasons end; year of eligibility added

There is now no chance for the Texas baseball and softball programs to continue play at a later date this season.

Rather than cancelling the season entirely, many were hopeful that the Big 12 Conference would leave the door open to continue play in a few weeks for the baseball and softball programs.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. According to Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball.com, the Big 12 officially announced that there would be no games played for the remainder of the season.

Both programs were off to an impressive start to the 2020 season. Texas baseball ended with an overall 14-3 record and was one week away from starting conference play. The Longhorns were scheduled to travel to Norman on March 20 to face the Oklahoma Sooners.

Several baseball teams within the Big 12 looked stout throughout the early part of the season. There was a legitimate chance for six teams to represent the Big 12 in the postseason. Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma and TCU finished atop the final conference rankings, with Oklahoma State and West Virginia close behind.

Arguably the most dominant team in all of Texas athletics this season, softball ended the year with an impressive 24-3 overall record. In her final appearance on the mound last week, senior Miranda Elish pitched a perfect game. Texas defeated the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the nation on back-to-back nights, which propelled the Longhorns to the No. 1 team in the nation according to Softball America.

Not only was Texas softball in a great position to take home the Big 12 conference title, they were a favorite to win the College World Series.

The NCAA officially announced the intent to add an extra year of eligibility to seniors who were not able to finish out the season. The details remain in the works, but having a chance to finish their collegiate careers on their own terms is a great place to start.

The public health and safety is top priority amid the Coronavirus outbreak, but it’s understandably an emotional period for college athletes who have dedicated countless hours into this season.

Coronavirus sports postponements and cancellations: The latest

Coronavirus postponements and cancellations in the sports world: tracking the latest

Tracking noteworthy sports postponements & cancellations during the coronavirus pandemic:

NCAA

  • Canceled all remaining winter and spring championships, including the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments
  • Most conferences suspended on-campus and off-campus recruiting, as well official and unofficial visits; length of suspension varies by conference
  • Suspended all recruiting on and off campus for all sports until at least April 15, according to sources

Auto racing

NASCAR

  • Postponed race events scheduled for this weekend in Atlanta and the following weekend in Homestead, Fla.

INDYCAR

  • Canceled all series events through April

Formula 1

  • Postponed start of season; expects to begin season at end of May

Baseball

MLB

  • Canceled remaining spring training games
  • Delayed start of regular season, including minor leagues, by at least two weeks

Basketball

NCAA

  • Canceled men’s and women’s basketball tournaments

NBA

Football

NCAA

  • Most conferences have canceled spring football practices and spring games

NFL

  • Prohibited “all in-person pre-draft visits involving draft-eligible players effective at the end of this business day, until further notice”
  • Several teams suspended travel to pro days

XFL

  • Canceled remainder of regular season; “committed to playing a full season in 2021”

Golf

PGA

  • Postponed tournaments through April 12, including the Masters (April 9-12); hope to hold events, especially the Masters, at a later date

LPGA

  • Postponed tournaments through April 15

European Tour

  • Postponed tournaments through April 26

Hockey

NHL

  • Suspended all games until “as soon as it is appropriate and prudent”

Soccer

MLS

  • Suspended season for 30 days

Premier League

  • Postponed season until April 3 at the earliest

UEFA

  • Postponed UEFA club competitions (including Champions League and Europa League) through March 21

Serie A

  • Postponed season through April 3

La Liga

  • Suspended games for first and second divisions

Combat sports

UFC

  • Moved Saturday’s UFC Fight Night Brazil to Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasilia with no spectators
  • Moved UFC Fight Night: Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik, scheduled for March 28, from Columbus, Ohio, to Las Vegas
  • Moved UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris, scheduled for April 11, from Portland, Ore., to Las Vegas

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Phillip Fulmer releases statement during coronavirus pandemic

Phillip Fulmer releases statement during coronavirus pandemic.

KNOXVILLE — The coronavirus pandemic has caused sporting events to be canceled, postponed or placed on pause throughout sports across the world.

The Southeastern Conference announced Friday that all organized team activities, competitions, team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings, will be suspended through April 15.

Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer released a statement regarding the University of Tennessee and the coronavirus pandemic.

Phillip Fulmer’s statement issued through a UT press release:

“The past several days have been filled with uncertainty and have presented unique and challenging circumstances. A growing public health crisis has led to difficult but necessary decisions. I personally am grateful for the courageous leadership of Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey, UT Chancellor Plowman and the rest of our conference presidents, chancellors and ADs. Dialogue is ongoing. We are all in uncharted territory, and there is no manual to guide our decision making. However, we must continue to act with abundant caution while prioritizing health and safety throughout our campuses and communities.

“I am heartbroken for our student-athletes who have poured their heart and soul into their training and now find themselves in a season of uncertainty. There are many lingering questions related to academics, eligibility, training schedules, housing and various other internal operations for which we do not yet have answers. But I am focused on actively engaging in the dialogue that is to come as we work to support our young men and women—highlighting their physical, mental and emotional wellness—to help them move forward.

“To our incredible fans, donors and alumni—I understand the frustration that comes along with canceled events, ticket refunds and many lost opportunities to celebrate Tennessee wins and championships. But I’m confident that these circumstances will stir the passion of the world’s most extraordinary fanbase, and that your love for the Vols and Lady Vols will shine through like never before when the action eventually resumes.

“Please take care of yourselves and each other as we navigate the days to come together, prioritizing the greater good.”

SEC suspends all organized team activities through April 15

SEC suspends all organized team activities through April 15.

BIRMINGHAM — The Southeastern Conference has announced that all organized team activities, competitions, team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings, will be suspended through April 15.

The decision stems from the coronavirus pandemic.

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Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tennessee kicked off spring football March 10 and conducted its second practice Thursday that was closed to media.

The NCAA announced it was suspending on and off-campus recruiting for all sports through April 15.

UT also announced that Pro Day will be postponed until further notice. Pro Day was scheduled for March 26. The Tennessee Football Coaches Clinic was scheduled for March 26-28 and is now cancelled.

Coronavirus forces NCAA to make big decisions regarding eligibility, recruiting

Coronavirus forced the NCAA to make some big decisions regarding player eligibility and recruiting.

The world of sports has been turned upside down as a result of the coronavirus, with leagues around the world cancelling, postponing or suspending their seasons or playoffs.

It’s the right decision globally. At the end of the day, human life trumps sports. The downside is that sports would make life a lot easier during a time like this.

What’s done is done, though, and collegiate spring sports across the United States have been called off at least until the coronavirus is in check.

Most of America agrees with the NCAA’s decision to suspend future sporting events, but felt for the students who had their final year of eligibility stripped or cut short because of the virus.

The NCAA worked on making things right for those students on Thursday.

The NCAA agreed “to grant relief for the use of a season of competition for student-athletes who have participated in spring sports.”

There is a possibility that the same policy will be put in place for winter sport athletes as well. The Council Coordination Committee will discuss that.

As for recruiting, according to a report from Jeff Goodman of Stadium, the NCAA has suspended all recruiting for all sports until at least April 15. That includes on and off campus.

https://twitter.com/insidethencaa/status/1238532876221775876?s=21

Petition established allowing players to retain eligibility due to cancellation of college athletics

Petition established allowing players to retain eligibility due to cancellation of college athletics.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused the NCAA to cancel remaining winter and spring championships.

For student-athletes that do not have eligibility remaining, their collegiate careers have ended.

A petition has been established for the NCAA to take action in allowing players without remaining eligibility to be able to return next season.

The petition can be viewed here.

NCAA press release (March 12, 2020):

Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.

Texas players react to cancellations amid Coronavirus outbreak

Several players expressed their feelings on social media regarding the Coronavirus and its impact on Texas athletics.

It feels as if the entire world is amid an unknown, fluid situation that creates a variety of emotions. Continue reading “Texas players react to cancellations amid Coronavirus outbreak”

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