Think back just a couple of months ago to when conference tournaments were getting going and we thought the NCAA Tournament was about to be played in front of empty stadiums. What happened that ended that from happening?
Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for coronavirus and as soon as the Dallas Mavericks home contest against the Denver Nuggets ended that night we haven’t seen a big-time sport played in the United States since as the NCAA suspended events the next day.
I remind you of that sequence to tell you that the news of the NFL cancelling all of their games abroad for 2020.
NFL officially will not play any international games this season: pic.twitter.com/SrvsU81bSm
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 4, 2020
The NCAA wasn’t about to be the first league or organization to step in and cancel things but when the NBA did they felt their hand was forced.
I know we sit and hope for everything to go off as scheduled between Notre Dame and Navy at the end of August, but is the NCAA going to let those two play a contest abroad when the NFL won’t even send their players and team employees?
The chances of that happening are slim to none and and slim is waiting for his jacket at the coat check.
I want to be wrong, I really do. I was fortunate enough to head to the Emerald Isle in 2012 to take in Notre Dame and Navy and as great as a 50-10 opening day victory was, the trip was downright fantastic before even bringing up the football part.
As much as I’d like to be wrong I simply can’t see the NCAA not following the lead of the NFL here and putting a stop to Notre Dame vs. Navy in Dublin from happening.