Tag: Tom Wolf

Penn State women’s basketball’s Anna Camden speaks about NIL

Penn State’s Anna Camden spoke about new NIL laws in Pennsylvania during a visit from Governor Wolf

The landscape of NCAA sports has changed with name, image, and likeness laws being passed in multiple states, and the NCAA granting every student-athletes the right to capitalize on NIL. The NCAA’s official stance chance was officially changed on the issue shortly after Pennsylvania signed into law its NLI rights, and just hours before July 1 brought upon the dawn of a new era.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf visited Penn State this week to talk about the NIL bill that was signed for college athletes to get compensated for their name, image and likeness while still competing. Penn State women’s basketball player Anna Camden spoke during his visit spoke about the new NIL era.

Camden thanked Governor Wolf for coming to State College to talk about NIL in the state of Pennsylvania.

During the 2020-21 season, Anna Camden averaged 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 24.3 minutes while starting 23 of 24 games. She is among the many Penn State student-athletes to begin taking advantage of NIL opportunities by setting up an account on the personal video messaging platform Cameo.

The Penn State women’s basketball team will look to build off their 9-15 season that they had during the 2020-21 season.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

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James Franklin encourages Penn State fans to get vaccinated during visit from PA Governor Wolf

Pen State head coach James Franklin is fully vaccinated and he wants others in Pennsylvania to join him.

The push around the state of Pennsylvania, and the country, is on to encourage people to get vaccinated for COVID-19. The disease that decimated the entire sports calendar in 2020 continues to be fought with a ramped-up vaccine effort, and Penn State head coach James Franklin had the opportunity to speak out and encourage people to seek out a vaccine.

During a visit from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf in Happy Valley on Wednesday, Franklin and tight end Theo Johnson made their voices heard in support of being vaccinated.

A year after having no fans in Beaver Stadium for football games, Franklin is looking ahead to the first scheduled home game with the hope of seeing as many people as possible come into the stadium.

“We want our Ball State game on September 11 to be our first family reunion in almost two years and we want Beaver Stadium and all of Happy Valley rocking,” Franklin said, according to StateCollege.com. “This is not just about Penn State football. This is about the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We know how important it is for our community and fans to have our college football and professional teams in all sports return to full capacity.”

The lack of football fans in college towns across the country took a toll not just on universities, but the local economy as well. Small businesses that anticipate football Saturday crowds to turn a profit were among the many devasted by the impact of the pandemic last year.

Things do seem to be trending in a positive direction in Pennsylvania. Wolf announced earlier this week that outdoor capacity restrictions will be lifted effective May 31, and a statewide order to wear masks in public will be lifted once the state has hit the 70% vaccination benchmark for Pennsylvanians 18 years or older. Overall, the state is trending toward hitting that benchmark, as it sat at 50.9% for at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Outdoor events like Major League Baseball games in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have already welcomed back fans, and stadium capacities have been adjusted to allow more fans since initially opening up. With the way things are going, Penn State will absolutely be able to welcome fans in Beaver Stadium this fall. The biggest question is just how many will be allowed entry through the Beaver Stadium gates by the time the season kicks off.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

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Steelers vs. Ravens: Fans will not be permitted at newly-rescheduled game, per Steelers spokesperson

Pennsylvania’s new occupancy rules, which go into effect Friday, Nov. 27, will impact Steelers-Ravens fan attendance.

The bad news just keeps piling on. Not only will Heinz Field not be hosting its first Thanksgiving game, but it will be hosting fans either.

The NFL announced Wednesday afternoon that the Steelers vs. Ravens game, originally scheduled for Thanksgiving night, would be moved to Sunday, Nov. 29.

To make matters worse, fans who had tickets for the Thanksgiving game will not be allowed to attend the Nov. 29 game. The State of Pennsylvania’s new occupancy orders, announced earlier this week, go into effect Friday, Nov. 27.

The new policy wasn’t supposed to affect Heinz Field fan attendance until the Dec. 6 game against The Washington Football Team, but since the Steelers-Ravens game was delayed to Nov. 29, fans won’t be permitted due to the new state mandate.

The game is currently scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 29, at 1:15 p.m. on NBC.

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PA Gov. Tom Wolf set to announce if Eagles fans will be allowed back at Lincoln Financial Field

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday to announce the commonwealth will permit some fans at outdoor sporting events in Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Eagles could soon be preparing to host a limited number of fans at Lincoln Financial Field based on the stadium’s capacity.

According to WPXI, Governor Tom Wolf is expected to make an announcement on Tuesday morning at 10 am about a limited number of fans being allowed at sporting events in the state.

The Steelers host the Eagles Sunday at Heinz Field, which seats 68,400, and Wolf’s announcement could pave the way for a percentage of fans to attend the game. Lincoln Financial Field seats 69,176 and a 10%+ capacity could see between 6,000 and 8,000 fans at Eagles home games moving forward.

Pennsylvania high schools to have fall sports after Zach Ertz, others urge Gov. Tom Wolf to reverse course

PIAA moves forward with fall sports against Gov. Wolf’s recommendation

Pennsylvania high school student-athletes will now be able to participate in fall sports this year after the PIAA reversed course on canceling all sports until 2021.

The move went against the wishes of Governor Tom Wolf.

Eagles star tight end Zach Ertz and other athletes around the state spoke out after Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf recommended in early August that high school sports in the state be canceled until 2021.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, which is the governing body of high school sports in the state, had initially announced a two-week delay to the start of fall sports.

The PIAA Board of Directors voted on Friday to plan for the start of high school sports in the state on Aug. 24.

Steelers permitted to practice once the NFL allows

Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf has given the Pittsburgh Steelers the green-light to resume activities, but that doesn’t mean they can.

On Wednesday, Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf issued a statement permitting the play and practice of professional sports, without spectators, in several Pennsylvania counties, including Alleghany County.

It’s still unclear when Westmoreland County, where the Steelers typically conduct training camp in mid-July, will be open to sports.

“Professional sports, defined as any sporting event at which the participants are paid by a league or team, or at which individuals or teams receive prizes or purse, are allowed to practice or play in the yellow and green phases of reopening without on-site or venue spectators if the team (or league on behalf of the team) has developed a COVID-19 safety plan,” Wolf said in a statement.

Wolf added that the plan must be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and must include testing or screening and monitoring.

This clears the Steelers to resume activities as soon as the league’s protocol reaches the phase of gathering players.

As part of phase one of reopening the league, the Steelers’ facility opened May 19. This phase allows no more than 50% of staff — and no more than 75 people — in the facility. None of the coaching staff is allowed in the building, though the strength and conditioning coach can be there if he or she is rehabilitating an injured player. Likewise, no players are allowed unless they’re being rehabilitated.

“We opened our facility last Tuesday, May 19, and have adhered to the policies and guidelines from government and health officials as well as the National Football League,” Steelers director of communications Burt Lauten said in a statement. “We appreciate the guidance from the governor’s office as we make plans to safely prepare for the 2020 season.”

No timeline for phase two has been provided.

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PA Governor Tom Wolf announces Philadelphia Eagles are allowed to practice, play during yellow & green phases

PA Governor announces Eagles are allowed to practice, play in yellow & green phases

In a move that should make both fans of the Eagles and Steelers particularly happy, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced that NFL teams in the state can start preparing to practice and play games during the reopening process for green phase counties and yellow counties.

Wolf stated that professional sports teams are allowed to practice or play in the yellow and green phases of reopening without on-site or venue spectators if the team (or league on behalf of the team) has developed a COVID-19 safety plan.

The Eagles plan must be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and include, among other requirements, testing or screening and monitoring of all on-venue players and personnel.

As of now, no fans or spectators may be permitted in or outside of the NovaCare Complex and Lincoln Financial Field.

Wolf’s ruling means the Eagles could likely move forward with plans for a mid-June minicamp.

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Pennsylvania Governor noncommittal on Eagles, Steelers hosting games at start of 2020 NFL season

Tom Wolf won’t commit to Eagles hosting games to start 2020 NFL season

The NFL season is still some six months away but Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf is warning fans that adjustments may have to be made when it comes to the states, two professional football teams.

Sports and life itself have come to a halt amid the COVID-19 outbreak but In recent days, President Donald Trump has talked about the prospect of America’s sports world getting back on track.

“We have to get our sports back. I’m tired of watching baseball games that are 14 years old.”

Wolf is saying not so fast to fans in his state, telling Trib Live that it’s too soon to speculate on the Philadelphia Eagles or Pittsburgh Steelers hosting home NFL games with fans in attendance.

“It’s too soon to tell how our current mitigation efforts will impact future public events,” Wolf’s Press Secretary Lyndsay Kensinger said via email.

“We are following guidelines and protocols set forth by the CDC and health officials from around the state,” Steelers spokesperson Burt Lauten told me in an email after reading the statement from Kensinger. “If and when things change to our current working situation, we will adjust accordingly by following the guidance of the health officials as well as the Governor’s Office.”

When asked if Heinz field could potentially open back up before Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the Governor was again noncommittal.

”I have been considering when we end this phase from the time I put it into place,” Wolf said in a conference call Thursday. “What I haven’t done is come up with the dates yet. We need to keep thinking about that, keep talking about it but … I’m not there yet. I’m not ready to provide that date.”

The Steelers are scheduled to play the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame game on August 6 in Canton, Ohio.