Tag: Cancelled

SEC extends suspension of in-person athletic activities

The SEC announced that it has extended its suspension of all in-person athletic activities through at least May 31st due to coronavirus.

On Friday, the SEC announced that it has extended its suspension of all in-person athletic activities through at least May 31st.

Originally, the league had suspended all activities through April 15th.

Here is the statement that the conference issued on Friday:

The Southeastern Conference today announced that all in-person athletics activities, including team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings, whether voluntary or required, as well as camps and coaches clinics, will be suspended through at least May 31, based on public health advisories related to continuing developments associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The SEC had previously announced that in-person athletics activities were suspended through April 15.

In addition, virtual film review that does not include physical activity is permissible. Effective April 6, activity of this nature will be expanded to four (4) hours per week consistent with an NCAA rule waiver and NCAA legislation, an increase from the previously permissible maximum of two (2) hours per week. Any such activity must be scheduled in accordance with the institution’s established Time Management Policy and must not interfere with required class time for online instruction.

SEC member institutions will continue to provide their student-athletes with care and support to meet needs in areas including academics, medical care, mental health and wellness, nutrition and housing as needed.

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney confident we’ll have a 2020 CFB season

Clemson football HC Dabo Swinney is confident that we will have a 2020 college football season despite growing concern over coronavirus.

Concerns over whether or not we will have a 2020 college football season is continuing to grow.

ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit said that he would be “shocked” if we were to have any football, collegiately or professionally, this fall given the current coronavirus pandemic in the United States and around the world.

Fans were split on Herbstreit’s statement. Many agreed but a bigger number thought it was far too early to even discuss the possibility of no football this fall.

One man who does not agree with Herbstreit is Clemson’s two-time national title winning head coach Dabo Swinney.

Swinney discussed the pandemic and its potential impact on the sport we all love during a conference call with the media on Friday.

“My preference is let’s get to work and go play,” Swinney said. “That’s the best-case scenario, and I think that’s what’s going to happen. I don’t have any doubt. I have zero doubt that we’re going to be playing and the stands are going to be packed.”

Swinney sounds very optimistic that there will be a 2020 college football season despite concerns of it being delayed from a number athletic directors and analysts.

He is not thinking like that just yet. For the time being at least, Swinney is preparing as if his team will be reporting to camp in August.

He told the teleconference participants that he has created a T.I.G.E.R.S. acronym for his team. It stands for “This Is Gonna End Real Soon.”

“That’s just my mindset. I’ve got one plan, and that’s to get the Tigers ready to play in late August, early September,” Swinney said. “I’ll leave it to the smart people to figure out the doomsday scenarios. We’ve got one scenario, and that’s to run down that hill and kick it off in the valley.”

Swinney also mentioned that he is hopeful that players may actually be able to return to campus as early as next month, even if classes are still being conducted online only.

“This is America, man. We’ve stormed the beaches of Normandy. We’ve sent a rover out on Mars and walked on the moon. This is the greatest country. We’ve created an iPhone where I can sit here and talk to people in all these different places. We’ve got the smartest people in the world. We’re going to rise up and kick this thing in the teeth and get back to our lives.”

Georgia football Pro Day postponed amid coronavirus outbreak

Amid the growing concern over the spread of the coronavirus, Georgia football has postponed its Pro Day.

As a result of the growing concern over the spread of the coronavirus, Georgia has announced its Pro Day, which was to be held next Wednesday, has been postponed.

This announcement came shortly after the school also said that spring practice has been postponed. 

According to this tweet below, Georgia will host no spring football through at least March 30th.

That means the Pro Day and the Coaches Clinic will not take place. It’s unlikely that the coaches clinic will be rescheduled, though the Pro Day should be moved to a yet-to-be-determined date.

The Pro-Day turnout would have been underwhelming, as NFL teams are being cautious about sending scouts across the country to observe. Many NFL teams have already said they will be sending nobody.

Previously, the SEC suspended all on-campus and in-home recruiting for its member institutions.

With students scheduled to return to Athens from spring break on Monday, Georgia announced it will not hold classes for the next two weeks. Students have been asked by authorities to stay away from campus until Sunday March 29.

On Thursday, the NCAA cancelled all championships for the rest of the 2019-20 academic year, including the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

Georgia football postpones spring practice due to coronavirus

With nearly all sporting events in the United States suspended due to the threat of the Coronavirus, Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said Friday that the Bulldogs will not begin spring practice as originally scheduled. UGA was to begin …

With nearly all sporting events in the United States suspended due to the threat of the Coronavirus, Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said Friday that the Bulldogs will not begin spring practice as originally scheduled.

UGA was to begin spring practice on Tuesday, but McGarity told Athens radio station 960 that practices for football will be suspended for “weeks”.

“We’re following the guidance from the chancellors which said students are strongly encouraged to be off-campus,” McGarity said. “For us to be able to practice with that directive doesn’t make sense.

“So for this period of time, there will be no practices. We’ll just see where things stand after that two week period.”

In addition, with G-Day scheduled for April 18, it is appearing less likely the annual spring game will be played this year.

Previously, the SEC suspended all on-campus and in-home recruiting for its member institutions.

With students scheduled to return to Athens from spring break on Monday, Georgia announced it will not hold classes for the next two weeks. Students have been asked by authorities to stay away from campus until Sunday March 29.

On Thursday, the NCAA cancelled all championships for the rest of the 2019-20 academic year, including the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

NCAA cancels March Madness due to growing concern over coronavirus

With the growing concern over the spread of coronavirus, the NCAA announced on Thursday that it is cancelling men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. This news came one day after all Power-Five conferences canceled their tournaments and the NBA …

With the growing concern over the spread of coronavirus, the NCAA announced on Thursday that it is cancelling men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

This news came one day after all Power-Five conferences canceled their tournaments and the NBA suspended play indefinitely.

Globally, we are seeing similar precautions taken with certain leagues cancelling, suspending and postponing games, or playing games but without fans in attendance.

“This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to the spread of the pandemic and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during the academic year given the ongoing decisions by other entities,” the NCAA said in statement.

As for Georgia, the Bulldogs did not stand much of a chance to make the NCAA Tournament regardless, however, there was a slither of hope remaining – Georgia would have had to win the SEC Championship if it wanted to make the tourney.

Georgia’s season ended on a win, though, as the Dawgs beat Ole Miss in the first round of the conference tournament. UGA was slated to play Florida, a team it had lost to twice already this season, on Thursday.

Georgia finished the season with a 16-16 mark.

As for Anthony Edwards, Georgia’s superstar freshman, he finished his season averaging 19.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Will Georgia football cancel G-Day due to coronavirus?

Is Georgia football going to cancel G-Day due to coronavirus?

With the Georgia campus largely empty this week as students are on spring break, the main concern for faculty and administrators is the possibility of eliminating in-person classes on account of the unfolding COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

With social distancing becoming necessary, it is possible the university could close for a period of time. In anticipation of this event, the University System of Georgia has produced an online training course called “Rapid Guide to Teaching Online.”

For the time being, however, the university has sent an email to all of its students, faculty and staff stating that the school is planning on resuming normal class operations on Monday, March 16th – the first day back from spring break.

Many schools across the nation have extended spring break and will do way with in-person classes temporarily. Washington, Stanford, Penn State, several Ivy League schools and others have already gone this route. Wednesday, the Florida Board of Governors declared that all public universities in Florida have been directed to transition all in-person classes to online platforms effective immediately, a precautionary step to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.

With Georgia’s 15 days of spring practice to begin March 17, culminating with the annual G-Day Game on April 18, contingency plans are being made for the football team. Options include practicing in isolation and playing G-Day in an empty stadium or cancelling the spring season. G-Day, which has attracted huge crowds of up to 94,000 to Sanford Stadium in the Kirby Smart era, has become a tremendous recruiting tool for the Bulldogs. However, with some states, such as Ohio and Washington banning athletic events, it would not be a surprise to see the state of Georgia follow.

On Wednesday, the NCAA announced that March Madness, including the Final Four in April, would be played in empty stadiums. Less than 24 hours later, the Power 5 leagues cancelled their conference tournaments. Following suit were the American, Atlantic 10, Conference USA, MAC, America East, Big Sky and WAC.

After the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, it is increasingly more likely that Georgia will follow in the footsteps of other schools and cancel G-Day or play a controlled scrimmage without spectators.