Northwest Notes July 18, 2020
Idaho football home opener vs. Western Oregon canceled
MOSCOW — The University of Idaho football’s regular season opener Sept. 5 against NCAA Division II Western Oregon has been canceled.
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced Friday that all member institutions will suspend athletic competition through Nov. 30, due to COVID-19.
Idaho’s game at Washington State, originally scheduled for Sept. 19 in Pullman, was canceled earlier this month when the Pac-12 announced it was moving to a conference-only schedule for 2020.
Scheduling alternatives for both games are currently being discussed.
Idaho is scheduled to play at Temple on Sept. 12, and open Big Sky Conference play Oct. 3 at UC Davis.
Idaho officials said more than 70 football players have returned to campus in anticipation of fall camp.
Big Sky Football Virtual Kickoff
moved up to July 23-24
FARMINGTON, Utah — Big Sky officials got the content compiled faster than expected, so the Big Sky Conference’s annual Football Kickoff was moved up to July 23-24.
It was originally scheduled for July 28-29.
All 13 league head coaches and one student-athlete from each football program will participate in the two-day event that will air on Pluto TV.
The virtual media day will begin at 9 a.m. PDT on Thursday on Pluto TV Ch. 531 with a “State of the Big Sky Conference” address from commissioner Tom Wistrcill. Thursday’s stream will include the release of the conference preseason coaches and media polls, followed by head coach interviews.
Friday’s event will kick off at 9 a.m. PDT and will include the release of the preseason all-conference team and preseason MVPs, as well as the athlete interviews.
Idaho will be represented by coach Paul Petrino and linebacker Christian Elliss.
Eastern Washington will be represented by coach Aaron Best and quarterback Eric Barriere.
2020 Big Sky Football Virtual Kickoff Schedule
On Pluto TV Ch. 531
Day 1
Thursday, July 23
(In order beginning at 9 a.m. PDT)
• State of the Address, Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill
• Big Sky football preseason coaches and media polls
• Coaches: Bruce Barnum, Portland State; Jeff Choate, Montana State; Rob Phenicie, Idaho State; Dan Hawkins, UC Davis; Jay Hill, Weber State; Ed McCaffrey, Northern Colorado; Troy Taylor, Sacramento State; Chris Ball, Northern Arizona; Bobby Hauck, Montana; Demario Warren, Southern Utah; Beau Baldwin, Cal Poly; Aaron Best, Eastern Washington; Paul Petrino, Idaho.
Day 2
Friday, July 24
(In order beginning at 9 a.m. PDT)
• Preseason all-conference teams, Craig Haley, STATS and Sam Herder, HERO SPORTS
• Athletes: Davis Alexander, Portland State; Noah Sol, Northern Colorado; Samori Toure, Montana; Stacy Chukwumezie, Northern Arizona; Lewis Kidd, Montana State; Landen Measom, Southern Utah; Eric Barriere, Eastern Washington; Josh Davis, Weber State; Christian Elliss, Idaho; Matt Shotwell, Cal Poly; Tanner Conner, Idaho State; Elijah Dotson, Sacramento State; Ulonzo Gilliam, UC Davis.
Lewis-Clark’s new conference
votes to delay start of fall sports
CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Cascade Collegiate Conference’s Council of Presidents voted to delay the start of all conference fall sports with the hopes of competing later in the 2020-21 school year, league officials announced on Friday.
In addition, all outside competition involving conference schools is suspended until at least Nov. 1 and will be re-evaluated at that time.
The decision affects women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country and golf, and the start of the seasons for men’s and women’s basketball at Lewis-Clark State College, which joined the conference this summer after leaving the Frontier Conference. Cascade Conference officials hope the fall seasons can be held either during the winter or more likely spring.
“This was not a decision taken lightly, but we, the Council of Presidents of the Cascade Collegiate Conference, believe it is in the best interest of our student-athletes, campus communities and conference,” L-C State President Dr. Cynthia Pemberton said. “We will launch the semester focused on health, safety and academics and look toward resuming competitions in the spring.”
The delay of fall sports follows a national trend for college sports because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent rise in positive tests throughout the country.
The conference left it up to the individual schools to decide whether to conduct fall practices, weight training, conditioning and other team activities in accordance with campus, local and state policies, as well as, the NAIA approved 24-week period during the fall. Pemberton said LCSC will continue to monitor the ever-changing pandemic and will make a decision about practices closer to the originally scheduled start time for those seasons.
All L-C State sports’ competitions have been impacted by the virus. In March, the Warrior basketball teams had their national tournaments cancelled and at the same time, all spring sports were cancelled.
Conference officials said with member schools in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and British Columbia in Canada, it presented difficult challenges with how states and areas are dealing with the different phases of re-opening because of the pandemic. Also, the border between the U.S. and Canada remains closed to travel at this time.
Conference commissioner Robert Cashell said he will work with athletic directors and coaches throughout the league to work on revised schedules as well as setting standard start dates for each sport.
No decisions were made regarding delaying the winter sports of men’s and women’s basketball, although L-C State must alter its schedules. Both Warrior teams were scheduled to open their seasons in October.
The league will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and if necessary, winter sports could be adjusted as well, officials said.