NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-A North Platte man has been arrested on allegations of rape.

According to North Platte Police, on August 13, 2020, officers made contact with a subject at the police station who reported they had been sexually assaulted in the 2300 Block of East Philip. 

 Officers spoke with the victim, who indicated they had been sexually assaulted by 67-year-old Herbert Russell. 

Police say the victim advised that they had been assaulted two separate times, on the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13. 

Police say during the investigation, officers were able to establish probable cause to arrest Russell.  Russell was later located and placed under arrest on suspicion of 1st-degree sexual assault. 

 Russell was incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center. 

According to police, officers later served a search warrant at the location of the incident, where they found corroborating evidence of the assault.  

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597407001056.jpeg" alt="Herbert Russell" />
                        <figcaption>Herbert Russell</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-A North Platte man has been arrested on allegations of rape.</p><p>According to North Platte Police, on August 13, 2020, officers made contact with a subject at the police station who reported they had been sexually assaulted in the 2300 Block of East Philip. </p><p> Officers spoke with the victim, who indicated they had been sexually assaulted by 67-year-old Herbert Russell. </p><p>Police say the victim advised that they had been assaulted two separate times, on the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13. </p><p>Police say during the investigation, officers were able to establish probable cause to arrest Russell.  Russell was later located and placed under arrest on suspicion of 1st-degree sexual assault. </p><p> Russell was incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center. </p><p>According to police, officers later served a search warrant at the location of the incident, where they found corroborating evidence of the assault.  </p>

North Platte man arrested on rape allegations

Scotty C and Dalene Skates chat about Lunch with the Wild Bunch coming up Friday at the Wild West Arena Pavilion. www.nebraskalanddays.com

<p>Scotty C and Dalene Skates chat about Lunch with the Wild Bunch coming up Friday at the Wild West Arena Pavilion. www.nebraskalanddays.com</p><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Nebraskaland Days Lunch with the Wild Bunch" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/x6ged-e5e414?from=pb6admin&amp;download=1&amp;version=1&amp;auto=0&amp;share=1&amp;download=1&amp;rtl=0&amp;fonts=Helvetica&amp;skin=1&amp;pfauth=&amp;btn-skin=107"></iframe></div>

🎧 Post Podcast: Nebraskaland Days Lunch with the Wild Bunch

<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/869925007&color=%232a1bd9&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1" title="eagleradio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">eagleradio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1/7302020-linco-raceway-raw" title="7.30.2020 Linco Raceway end of season" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">7.30.2020 Linco Raceway end of season</a></div></div>

Post Podcast: Talking with Linco Raceway backpack giveaway and more! 

Scotty C and Nebraskaland Days Executive Director David Fudge talk about the revised Summer Jam Concert Series featuring .38 Special and Granger Smith. Visit <a href="http://www.nebraskalanddays.com">www.nebraskalanddays.com</a> for tickets and information.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<p>Scotty C and Nebraskaland Days Executive Director David Fudge talk about the revised Summer Jam Concert Series featuring .38 Special and Granger Smith. Visit <a href="http://www.nebraskalanddays.com">www.nebraskalanddays.com</a> for tickets and information.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Nebraskaland Days Update-Concerts" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/4trvi-e5290b?from=pb6admin&amp;download=1&amp;version=1&amp;auto=0&amp;share=1&amp;download=1&amp;rtl=0&amp;fonts=Helvetica&amp;skin=1&amp;pfauth=&amp;btn-skin=103"></iframe></div><figure>
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Post Podcast: Nebraskaland Days Update-Concerts

Scotty C and Nebraskaland Days Executive Director talk about seating at the Buffalo Bill PRCA Rodeo and a lot more! Tickets and information at <a>www.nebraskalanddays.com!</a>

<p>Scotty C and Nebraskaland Days Executive Director talk about seating at the Buffalo Bill PRCA Rodeo and a lot more! Tickets and information at <a>www.nebraskalanddays.com!</a></p><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Nebraskaland Days Update-Let's rodeo! With a little social distancing." height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/crrmr-e45f5d?from=pb6admin&amp;download=1&amp;version=1&amp;vjs=1&amp;auto=0&amp;share=1&amp;download=1&amp;rtl=0&amp;fonts=Helvetica&amp;skin=1&amp;pfauth="></iframe></div><figure>
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🎙 Post Podcast: Nebraskaland Days Update-Let's Rodeo! With a little social distancing...

Midwest Championship Fighting is back with the St. Paddy's Beatdown Bash slated to go down at the Wild West Arena on August 20, 2020. Scotty C. chats with MCF owner/promoter Russ Jones about the event. Follow MCF on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MCFMMA/">facebook.com/MCFMMA</a>.

<p>Midwest Championship Fighting is back with the St. Paddy's Beatdown Bash slated to go down at the Wild West Arena on August 20, 2020. Scotty C. chats with MCF owner/promoter Russ Jones about the event. Follow MCF on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MCFMMA/">facebook.com/MCFMMA</a>.</p><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: MCF St. Paddy's Beatdown Remixed at the Wild West Arena" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/u242u-e4378b?from=pb6admin&amp;download=1&amp;version=1&amp;vjs=1&amp;auto=0&amp;share=1&amp;download=1&amp;rtl=0&amp;fonts=Helvetica&amp;skin=1&amp;pfauth="></iframe></div><figure>
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🎙 Post Podcast: MCF St. Paddy's Beatdown Bash Remixed at the Wild West Arena

Scotty C and Executive Director David Fudge sit down to talk Nebraskaland Days. We know the rodeo is coming up, but did you know many of the other classic Nebraskaland Days events are happening too? Have a listen!

<p>Scotty C and Executive Director David Fudge sit down to talk Nebraskaland Days. We know the rodeo is coming up, but did you know many of the other classic Nebraskaland Days events are happening too? Have a listen!</p><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Nebraskaland Days classic events still happening in 2020" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/eksbp-e397d3?from=usersite&vjs=1&skin=1&fonts=Helvetica&auto=0&download=1" height="315" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player"></iframe></div>

Post Podcast: Nebraskaland Days classic events still happening in 2020

<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/859025011&color=%232a1bd9&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1" title="eagleradio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">eagleradio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1/rrpodcast716" title="7.16.2020 Rodeo Report" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">7.16.2020 Rodeo Report</a></div></div>

7.16 Rodeo Report with Tony Lama

Scotty C sits down with Pat and David from L2 for Kids, an organization that purchases new school clothes for children in need. They're hosting a fundraiser July 25 and 26 at Gary's Superfoods (East 4th) and Harvest Christian Church. Visit their website&nbsp;<a href="http://www.l2forkids.org/">www.l2forkids.org&nbsp;</a>for more details or call Henry at 308-530-0441 or Pat at 308-520-1104.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<p>Scotty C sits down with Pat and David from L2 for Kids, an organization that purchases new school clothes for children in need. They're hosting a fundraiser July 25 and 26 at Gary's Superfoods (East 4th) and Harvest Christian Church. Visit their website&nbsp;<a href="http://www.l2forkids.org/">www.l2forkids.org&nbsp;</a>for more details or call Henry at 308-530-0441 or Pat at 308-520-1104.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: L2 for Kids fundraiser assists children in need with new clothes for school" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/pcqwj-e37289?from=usersite&vjs=1&skin=1&fonts=Helvetica&auto=0&download=1" height="315" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player"></iframe></div>

🎧 Post Podcast: L2 for Kids fundraiser assists children in need with new clothes for school

<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/854355565&color=%232a1bd9&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1" title="eagleradio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">eagleradio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/eagleradio-1/post-podcast-interview-for-bridge-of-hope-survivor-support-day" title="Post Podcast: Interview For Bridge Of Hope Survivor Support day" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Post Podcast: Interview For Bridge Of Hope Survivor Support day</a></div></div><figure>
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Post Podcast: Bridge of Hope Fundraiser this weekend

The weekly Nebraskaland Days Calendar of Events with Scotty C and Executive Director David Fudge. This week, we're talking about the Buffalo Bill PRCA Rodeo. Powered by the North Platte Post, Brouillette Law Firm and Levander's Body Shop, Tire and Service.

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                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1561318380564.png" alt="" />
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                    </figure><p>The weekly Nebraskaland Days Calendar of Events with Scotty C and Executive Director David Fudge. This week, we're talking about the Buffalo Bill PRCA Rodeo. Powered by the North Platte Post, Brouillette Law Firm and Levander's Body Shop, Tire and Service.</p><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Nebraskaland Days Calendar of Events (July 10, 2020)" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/hr7gg-e2bbe5?from=yiiadmin&download=1&version=1&skin=4&btn-skin=109&auto=0&download=1&pbad=1"></iframe></div>

🎙Post Podcast: Nebraskaland Days Buffalo Bill PRCA Rodeo 2020

Broken Bow Schools will resume normal schedules on Monday. Restrictions on extracurricular activities have been lifted.

BROKEN BOW, Neb.-Broken Bow Public Schools administrators temporarily closed the middle school/high school building on Friday after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition to closing the building, all extracurricular activities were also suspended.

Elementary school children had a normal class schedule on Friday.

Indications are that the school will reopen Monday, but that has not been confirmed by administrators.

<p>UPDATE August 15, 2020</p><p>Broken Bow Schools will resume normal schedules on Monday. Restrictions on extracurricular activities have been lifted.</p><p>BROKEN BOW, Neb.-Broken Bow Public Schools administrators temporarily closed the middle school/high school building on Friday after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.</p><p>In addition to closing the building, all extracurricular activities were also suspended.</p><p>Elementary school children had a normal class schedule on Friday.</p><p>Indications are that the school will reopen Monday, but that has not been confirmed by administrators.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Flbphd.org%2Fposts%2F10163860944505332&width=500" width="500" height="689" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Broken Bow closes middle school/high school building after staff member tests positive

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                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597489275673.jpeg" alt="<b>Caleb Tipton Orander: Driving Under Suspension</b>" />
                        <figcaption><b>Caleb Tipton Orander: Driving Under Suspension</b></figcaption>
                    </figure><div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://northplattepost.com/category/arrests/" target="_blank">Click Here To See Past Hot Sheets</a></h2>
<strong>This information is not a criminal history. Criminal charges are often dropped or reduced. All individuals included in this post are presumed innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law. The North Platte Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. Any person who believes information provided is not accurate may submit a complaint to
</strong><strong>admin@northplattepost.com.</strong>



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The Hot Sheets (8.15.20): Take the Wheel and Steer

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Officials reported 18 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in their jurisdiction on Friday.

The West Central District Health Department says all of the new cases are in Lincoln County.

There are currently 150 active cases in the WCDHD jurisdiction, with at total of 227 since March. 75 cases are reported as recovered.

Visit the WCDHD Dashboard <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172…">HERE</a>.

<p>NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Officials reported 18 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in their jurisdiction on Friday.</p><p>The West Central District Health Department says all of the new cases are in Lincoln County.</p><p>There are currently 150 active cases in the WCDHD jurisdiction, with at total of 227 since March. 75 cases are reported as recovered.</p><p>Visit the WCDHD Dashboard <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/sydney.keller5172…">HERE</a>.</p><figure>
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Officials report 18 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Lincoln County on Friday

LINCOLN –&nbsp;On Thursday, Governor Pete Ricketts highlighted the results of the Second Session of the 106th&nbsp;Legislature in his annual “Sine Die” address to the Unicameral on the final day of its 2020 session.&nbsp;

During the address, the Governor thanked Senators for passing all four priorities set in January, including property tax relief, veterans tax relief, flood relief, and career scholarships.&nbsp; He praised Senators for convening in late March to authorize emergency funds for the State’s coronavirus pandemic response.&nbsp; The Governor also highlighted the Legislature’s successful passage of a ban on the gruesome practice of dismemberment abortion.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Watch the Governor’s Sine Die address to the Legislature by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fi6rz34s104j4h43%2FGov.%2520Ricketts%25202020%2520Sine%2520Die%2520Address.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C052ad4065d414142522608d8407a35b1%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637330240911643604&amp;sdata=HuMI3S9SSj740SNVg2WZtaJjajFV89Mu4uf5MyLMAnQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597443404639.jpeg" alt="" />
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                    </figure><p>LINCOLN –&nbsp;On Thursday, Governor Pete Ricketts highlighted the results of the Second Session of the 106th&nbsp;Legislature in his annual “Sine Die” address to the Unicameral on the final day of its 2020 session.&nbsp;</p><p>During the address, the Governor thanked Senators for passing all four priorities set in January, including property tax relief, veterans tax relief, flood relief, and career scholarships.&nbsp; He praised Senators for convening in late March to authorize emergency funds for the State’s coronavirus pandemic response.&nbsp; The Governor also highlighted the Legislature’s successful passage of a ban on the gruesome practice of dismemberment abortion.</p><p>HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION</p><ul>
                        <li>Canal Repair:&nbsp;Budget adjustments will provide funding to help repair the Gering-Fort Laramie and Goshen Irrigation Canal near Scottsbluff after it collapsed last year.</li><li>Career Scholarships:&nbsp;New scholarships through the Community Colleges, State Colleges, and the University of Nebraska will connect students to career pathways with great-paying jobs.</li><li>Corrections Workforce:&nbsp;A new partnership between Peru State College and the Nebraska Department of Corrections will help more Nebraskans take good opportunities in the field of public safety.</li><li>Flood Relief:&nbsp;Budget adjustments will provide over $55 million in relief to help Nebraska continue to rebuild bigger and better than before the historic 2019 floods.</li><li>Good Samaritans:&nbsp;Good Samaritans who take action to rescue a child stranded in a hot car will now be protected when taking lifesaving action.</li><li>NExT Project:&nbsp;The state has pledged initial funds to support Nebraska’s bid for a major federal investment in the University of Nebraska Medical Center.</li><li>Pro-Life:&nbsp;A new pro-life measure bans the gruesome practice of dismemberment abortion.</li><li>Property Tax Relief:&nbsp;State support for property tax relief will increase to $650 million annually over the next few years.&nbsp; This is more than a four-fold increase in relief since Governor Ricketts took office.</li><li>Tax Incentives Reform:&nbsp;New reforms to state tax incentives for businesses will take effect next year, replacing the state’s current business tax incentive program. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Veterans Tax Relief:&nbsp;New tax relief will give Nebraska’s veterans a 50 percent tax cut on taxes paid on military retirement benefits.</li>
                    </ul><p>Watch the Governor’s Sine Die address to the Legislature by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fs%2Fi6rz34s104j4h43%2FGov.%2520Ricketts%25202020%2520Sine%2520Die%2520Address.mp4%3Fdl%3D0&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C052ad4065d414142522608d8407a35b1%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637330240911643604&amp;sdata=HuMI3S9SSj740SNVg2WZtaJjajFV89Mu4uf5MyLMAnQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</p>

Gov. Ricketts: Session achieved the people’s priorities

Pacheco R A Marco, 26, Wallace and Cynthia V P Arrieta, 20, Wallace

William J Wright, 28, North Platte and Tayler L Yost, 22, North Platte

Ronald W Mikoloyck, 60, North Platte and Analou A Marcaida, 39, North Platte

Jason D Zogg, 44, Hershey and Dosha D Allen, 30, Hershey

<p><i>Published August 14, 2020</i></p><p>Pacheco R A Marco, 26, Wallace and Cynthia V P Arrieta, 20, Wallace</p><p>William J Wright, 28, North Platte and Tayler L Yost, 22, North Platte</p><p>Ronald W Mikoloyck, 60, North Platte and Analou A Marcaida, 39, North Platte</p><p>Jason D Zogg, 44, Hershey and Dosha D Allen, 30, Hershey</p>

Lincoln County Marriage Licenses

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Some of Nebraska's jails and prisons continue to struggle to control the spread of the coronavirus within their walls.

That struggle was on display this week in the Douglas County Jail, which on Thursday confirmed 35 new COVID-19 cases among the jail's employees and seven new cases among inmates. Since the onset of the pandemic, a total of 92 employees, two contractors and 66 prisoners have tested positive at the jail.

"Given the spread of the virus in the facility, we anticipate there are more positive cases," jail Director Mike Myers said. "We are closely monitoring our population and will continue to test anyone who shows symptoms."

The Nebraska state prisons system has also seen new confirmed cases nearly every day this week among staff. The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said Thursday that two more staffers with the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln had tested positive, bringing the total number of prison staffers across the state infected since the start of the outbreak to 54.

While the seven-day rolling average of new coronavirus cases in Nebraska has not increased, the seven-day average of daily deaths in the state has risen over the past two weeks from 1.86 deaths per day on July 30 to three deaths per day by Thursday.

<p>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Some of Nebraska's jails and prisons continue to struggle to control the spread of the coronavirus within their walls.</p><p>That struggle was on display this week in the Douglas County Jail, which on Thursday confirmed 35 new COVID-19 cases among the jail's employees and seven new cases among inmates. Since the onset of the pandemic, a total of 92 employees, two contractors and 66 prisoners have tested positive at the jail.</p><p>"Given the spread of the virus in the facility, we anticipate there are more positive cases," jail Director Mike Myers said. "We are closely monitoring our population and will continue to test anyone who shows symptoms."</p><p>The Nebraska state prisons system has also seen new confirmed cases nearly every day this week among staff. The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services said Thursday that two more staffers with the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln had tested positive, bringing the total number of prison staffers across the state infected since the start of the outbreak to 54.</p><p>While the seven-day rolling average of new coronavirus cases in Nebraska has not increased, the seven-day average of daily deaths in the state has risen over the past two weeks from 1.86 deaths per day on July 30 to three deaths per day by Thursday.</p>

Nebraska jails, prisons struggle to halt coronavirus spread

Weather permitting, a chip seal project will begin August 31 on N-25, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. 

Chip seal is an application of an asphalt binder to the roadway surface followed by an application of aggregate.

State maintenance forces will be performing the chip seal from Reference Post 30.0 to Reference Post 38.0, south of Hayes Center. The work is anticipated to take five days. One-lane traffic will be maintained with a pilot car and flaggers.

Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up and to put phones down.


<p>Weather permitting, a chip seal project will begin August 31 on N-25, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. </p><p>Chip seal is an application of an asphalt binder to the roadway surface followed by an application of aggregate.</p><p>State maintenance forces will be performing the chip seal from Reference Post 30.0 to Reference Post 38.0, south of Hayes Center. The work is anticipated to take five days. One-lane traffic will be maintained with a pilot car and flaggers.</p><p>Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up and to put phones down.
</p>

Road work to begin on N-25 south of Hayes Center

HERSHEY, Neb.-Hershey Public Schools (HPS) has decided to delay the start of school due to concerns regarding COVID-19.

HPS administrators made the announcement on Friday, stating that due to the "increase of COVID-19 in our region" they have decided not to start the school year until August 24, a delay of one week.

<p>HERSHEY, Neb.-Hershey Public Schools (HPS) has decided to delay the start of school due to concerns regarding COVID-19.</p><p>HPS administrators made the announcement on Friday, stating that due to the "increase of COVID-19 in our region" they have decided not to start the school year until August 24, a delay of one week.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3D10158540900640502%26id%3D189774405501&width=500" width="500" height="675" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Hershey Public Schools delay start due to increase in COVID-19 cases

<i>News Release US Attorney's Office-Omaha</i>

OMAHA, Neb.-United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Matthew Williams, 31, formerly of McCook, Nebraska, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for failing to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). After serving his prison term, Williams will be required to serve 25 years of supervised release and continue to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.

SORNA, also known as the Adam Walsh Protection and Safety Act, requires that a convicted sex offender register in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, where the offender is employed, or where the offender is a student, and that the sex offender maintain current registrations.&nbsp; Williams was required to register as a sex offender because he had been convicted of first-degree rape in 2010 in Cleveland County, Oklahoma.&nbsp; This conviction required that Williams register as a sex offender in the state of Oklahoma, and by federal law, in any other state to which he moved.&nbsp; Williams moved to McCook in May 2016 and continued to reside there, without registering, until February 2017.&nbsp; In March of 2018, Williams was prosecuted and convicted in Colorado for assault and attempted sexual assault of a child and is currently serving 4 years in prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/" target="_blank">www.projectsafechildhood.gov</a>.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the McCook Police Department.

<p><i>News Release US Attorney's Office-Omaha</i></p><p>OMAHA, Neb.-United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Matthew Williams, 31, formerly of McCook, Nebraska, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for failing to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). After serving his prison term, Williams will be required to serve 25 years of supervised release and continue to register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.</p><p>SORNA, also known as the Adam Walsh Protection and Safety Act, requires that a convicted sex offender register in each jurisdiction where the offender resides, where the offender is employed, or where the offender is a student, and that the sex offender maintain current registrations.&nbsp; Williams was required to register as a sex offender because he had been convicted of first-degree rape in 2010 in Cleveland County, Oklahoma.&nbsp; This conviction required that Williams register as a sex offender in the state of Oklahoma, and by federal law, in any other state to which he moved.&nbsp; Williams moved to McCook in May 2016 and continued to reside there, without registering, until February 2017.&nbsp; In March of 2018, Williams was prosecuted and convicted in Colorado for assault and attempted sexual assault of a child and is currently serving 4 years in prison.</p><p>This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/" target="_blank">www.projectsafechildhood.gov</a>.</p><p>This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the McCook Police Department.</p>

Former McCook man sentenced for failing to register as a sex offender

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) - A pedestrian was killed this week in a hit-and-run crash south of Kearney in south-central Nebraska, police there said.

The crash happened in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday on Highway 44 in Kearney County, the Kearney Hub&nbsp;<a href="https://kearneyhub.com/news/local/kearney-man-identified-as-victim-of-tuesday-vehicle-pedestrian-crash-south-of-kearney/article_e5aadbd6-dcd5-11ea-bd4e-13daeae68c2c.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. The Kearney County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, and arriving deputies found Christopher Hines, 43, of Kearney, dead at the scene.

The Nebraska State Patrol and Kearney County Sheriff's Office are investigating. No arrests in the case had been reported by midday Friday.

<p>KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) - A pedestrian was killed this week in a hit-and-run crash south of Kearney in south-central Nebraska, police there said.</p><p>The crash happened in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday on Highway 44 in Kearney County, the Kearney Hub&nbsp;<a href="https://kearneyhub.com/news/local/kearney-man-identified-as-victim-of-tuesday-vehicle-pedestrian-crash-south-of-kearney/article_e5aadbd6-dcd5-11ea-bd4e-13daeae68c2c.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. The Kearney County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, and arriving deputies found Christopher Hines, 43, of Kearney, dead at the scene.</p><p>The Nebraska State Patrol and Kearney County Sheriff's Office are investigating. No arrests in the case had been reported by midday Friday.</p>

Police say Kearney man killed in hit-and-run crash on Hwy 44

&nbsp; KANSAS CITY, Mo. (August 14, 2020) -&nbsp;The MIAA CEO Council has announced emergency action for the Association and its member institutions in regard to the 2020-2021 athletic seasons and campus sport activities.&nbsp; The emergency action comes as a result of the COVID-19 Global Health Pandemic, the NCAA announcement to cancel Fall National Championships, and the recently released NCAA Board of Governors’ directives regarding the&nbsp;Resocialization of Collegiate Sport.<br><br>All MIAA fall sport competitions will be suspended until January 1, 2021. The Association will continue to explore the possibility of a limited number of competitions in football, volleyball, men's soccer, and women’s soccer in the spring, as permitted by the NCAA.&nbsp; The Conference office has also canceled the 2020 MIAA Virtual Football Media Day presented by Seigfreid Bingham in light of the suspension of the MIAA football schedule.<br><br>“The health and well-being of MIAA student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and our communities continues to be the Association's top priority,” stated President Steve Scott of Pittsburg State University, chairperson of the MIAA CEO Council. “The MIAA is taking these important actions today to help our athletic departments comply with these new NCAA membership requirements, and to assist our campuses as we continue to address this public health crisis.”<br><br>All NCAA athletically related activities (in all MIAA sports), including in-season practices, out-of-season practices, weight training, team athletically related meetings, and voluntary workouts directed by staff or in institutional facilities shall be permitted this fall based on each institution’s ability to comply with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/requirements-each-division-related-conduct-fall-sports-and-championships-faqs">August 11th NCAA Policy Clarifications</a>&nbsp;document regarding the requirements for each division to conduct fall sports (non-competition) activities.&nbsp;<br><br>The Association will delay a decision on the winter sports competition schedule until October 1 at the latest.&nbsp;<br><br>“The MIAA CEO Council will continue to monitor this fluid and evolving situation for college athletics, and make necessary changes to this plan per updated NCAA guidance and restrictions,” added MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy.<br><br>MIAA leadership at member institutions will continue to work together and seek guidance from the NCAA on the NCAA Board of Governors’ directives and the Resocialization of Collegiate Sport Guidelines.&nbsp; The Association will continue to place the health, safety, and well-being of MIAA student-athletes, coaches, and administrators as its top priority.<br>

<p>&nbsp; KANSAS CITY, Mo. (August 14, 2020) -&nbsp;The MIAA CEO Council has announced emergency action for the Association and its member institutions in regard to the 2020-2021 athletic seasons and campus sport activities.&nbsp; The emergency action comes as a result of the COVID-19 Global Health Pandemic, the NCAA announcement to cancel Fall National Championships, and the recently released NCAA Board of Governors’ directives regarding the&nbsp;Resocialization of Collegiate Sport.<br><br>All MIAA fall sport competitions will be suspended until January 1, 2021. The Association will continue to explore the possibility of a limited number of competitions in football, volleyball, men's soccer, and women’s soccer in the spring, as permitted by the NCAA.&nbsp; The Conference office has also canceled the 2020 MIAA Virtual Football Media Day presented by Seigfreid Bingham in light of the suspension of the MIAA football schedule.<br><br>“The health and well-being of MIAA student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and our communities continues to be the Association's top priority,” stated President Steve Scott of Pittsburg State University, chairperson of the MIAA CEO Council. “The MIAA is taking these important actions today to help our athletic departments comply with these new NCAA membership requirements, and to assist our campuses as we continue to address this public health crisis.”<br><br>All NCAA athletically related activities (in all MIAA sports), including in-season practices, out-of-season practices, weight training, team athletically related meetings, and voluntary workouts directed by staff or in institutional facilities shall be permitted this fall based on each institution’s ability to comply with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/requirements-each-division-related-conduct-fall-sports-and-championships-faqs">August 11th NCAA Policy Clarifications</a>&nbsp;document regarding the requirements for each division to conduct fall sports (non-competition) activities.&nbsp;<br><br>The Association will delay a decision on the winter sports competition schedule until October 1 at the latest.&nbsp;<br><br>“The MIAA CEO Council will continue to monitor this fluid and evolving situation for college athletics, and make necessary changes to this plan per updated NCAA guidance and restrictions,” added MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy.<br><br>MIAA leadership at member institutions will continue to work together and seek guidance from the NCAA on the NCAA Board of Governors’ directives and the Resocialization of Collegiate Sport Guidelines.&nbsp; The Association will continue to place the health, safety, and well-being of MIAA student-athletes, coaches, and administrators as its top priority.<br></p>

MIAA cancels their fall sports, will make a decision on winter by Oct 1

The NCAA called off fall championship events — a move Thursday that does not affect major college football — because not enough schools will be competing in sports such as men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball during the first semester.

NCAA President Mark Emmert made the announcement in a&nbsp;video posted on Twitter, but it has been clear this was coming as conferences canceled fall sports seasons because of the coronvirus pandemic.

“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t and can’t turn toward winter and spring and say, ‘How can we create a legitimate championship for those students?’” Emmert said. “There are ways to do this. I am completely confident we can figure this out. If schools and conferences want to move forward ... let’s do it.”

Emmert also said NCAA officials have begun work on contingencies for the NCAA basketball tournaments, possibly moving dates and looking into creating bubbles in which the teams can compete.

He said the NCAA would prioritize staging championships in winter and spring sports because those — including the lucrative men’s basketball tournament — were canceled when COVID-19 first spiked across the United States in March.

Moving fall sports to the spring still must go through the Division I Council, which is comprised of representatives of all 32 conferences, and be approved by the DI Board of Directors.

Championship events in all sports could be modified going forward to deal with COVID-19, Emmert said. That is likely to include fewer teams participating at fewer and predetermined sites.

The spring calendar already features more sports than the fall so cramming still more in, including FCS football, will create logistical challenges.

“Will it be normal? Of course not. We’ll be playing falls sports in the spring,” he said. “Will it create other conflicts and challenges? Of course. But is it doable? Yeah.”

Last week the NCAA Board of Governors said championship events in a sport would canceled if fewer than 50% of the teams competing in that sports played a regular season.

Divisions II and III almost immediately followed by canceling their fall championships. Division I — which is comprised of 357 schools — held on, but as conference after conference canceled their fall seasons the tipping point came.

Falls sports also include field hockey, cross country and water polo. Schools in conferences that have not yet canceled their fall seasons could conceivably try to stage regular-season competition over the next few months.

The highest tier of Division I football, the Bowl Subdivision, is not impacted. The College Football Playoff is run by the conferences and six of those leagues are still moving toward having a season, including the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12.

Beyond those six conferences, the rest of Division I has mostly been shuttered. Whether they can pull off football or any other sport during the pandemic is still to be determined.

Earlier in the day, the NCAA’s chief medical officer and two of its infectious disease expert advisers warned the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 throughout the United States remains an enormous obstacle for college sports to overcome.

“I feel like the Titanic. We have hit the iceberg, and we’re trying to make decisions of what time should we have the band play,” said Dr. Carlos Del Rio, executive associate dean at Emory University.

Del Rio, a member of the NCAA’s COVID-19 advisory panel, appeared with NCAA chief medical officer Dr. Brian Hainline on a webinar hosted by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

“We need to focus on what’s important,” Del Rio said. “What’s important right now is we need to control this virus. Not having fall sports this year, in controlling this virus, would be to me the No. 1 priority.”

The United States has had more than 5 million COVID-19 cases.

Earlier this week, the Big Ten and Pac-12 became the first Power Five conferences to decide not to play football, or any sports, this fall. Emmert called it a devastating blow.

College sports administrators and coaches have been making the case schools are providing structured environments with frequent testing and strict protocols that make athletes safer than the general population.

“We had some positive tests when our student-athletes first came back,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said. “We had a dramatic decrease since they’ve gotten under our umbrella and that’s good. Basically we have our student-athlete under our umbrella. On a college campus where students are going to class, it’s hard to create a bubble.”

Hainline said about 1%-2% of college athletes who have been tested by schools have been positive for COVID-19.

Del Rio said conferences are coming to different decisions not because they have different information, but because they are assessing risk differently.

“Some conferences will say, we’ll go forward. It’s a very narrow path, hopefully they’ll be no infections and if there are infections we’ll be able to detect them, and we we’ll be able to stop them and we won’t have an outbreak,” Del Rio said. “But other conferences say, no. Our tolerance is for zero risk and therefore we will not have it. It’s exactly the same data just being looked at in different ways.”

<p>By RALPH D. RUSSO - Associated Press</p><p>The NCAA called off fall championship events — a move Thursday that does not affect major college football — because not enough schools will be competing in sports such as men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball during the first semester.</p><p>NCAA President Mark Emmert made the announcement in a&nbsp;video posted on Twitter, but it has been clear this was coming as conferences canceled fall sports seasons because of the coronvirus pandemic.</p><p>“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t and can’t turn toward winter and spring and say, ‘How can we create a legitimate championship for those students?’” Emmert said. “There are ways to do this. I am completely confident we can figure this out. If schools and conferences want to move forward ... let’s do it.”</p><p>Emmert also said NCAA officials have begun work on contingencies for the NCAA basketball tournaments, possibly moving dates and looking into creating bubbles in which the teams can compete.</p><p>He said the NCAA would prioritize staging championships in winter and spring sports because those — including the lucrative men’s basketball tournament — were canceled when COVID-19 first spiked across the United States in March.</p><p>Moving fall sports to the spring still must go through the Division I Council, which is comprised of representatives of all 32 conferences, and be approved by the DI Board of Directors.</p><p>Championship events in all sports could be modified going forward to deal with COVID-19, Emmert said. That is likely to include fewer teams participating at fewer and predetermined sites.</p><p>The spring calendar already features more sports than the fall so cramming still more in, including FCS football, will create logistical challenges.</p><p>“Will it be normal? Of course not. We’ll be playing falls sports in the spring,” he said. “Will it create other conflicts and challenges? Of course. But is it doable? Yeah.”</p><p>Last week the NCAA Board of Governors said championship events in a sport would canceled if fewer than 50% of the teams competing in that sports played a regular season.</p><p>Divisions II and III almost immediately followed by canceling their fall championships. Division I — which is comprised of 357 schools — held on, but as conference after conference canceled their fall seasons the tipping point came.</p><p>Falls sports also include field hockey, cross country and water polo. Schools in conferences that have not yet canceled their fall seasons could conceivably try to stage regular-season competition over the next few months.</p><p>The highest tier of Division I football, the Bowl Subdivision, is not impacted. The College Football Playoff is run by the conferences and six of those leagues are still moving toward having a season, including the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big 12.</p><p>Beyond those six conferences, the rest of Division I has mostly been shuttered. Whether they can pull off football or any other sport during the pandemic is still to be determined.</p><p>Earlier in the day, the NCAA’s chief medical officer and two of its infectious disease expert advisers warned the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 throughout the United States remains an enormous obstacle for college sports to overcome.</p><p>“I feel like the Titanic. We have hit the iceberg, and we’re trying to make decisions of what time should we have the band play,” said Dr. Carlos Del Rio, executive associate dean at Emory University.</p><p>Del Rio, a member of the NCAA’s COVID-19 advisory panel, appeared with NCAA chief medical officer Dr. Brian Hainline on a webinar hosted by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.</p><p>“We need to focus on what’s important,” Del Rio said. “What’s important right now is we need to control this virus. Not having fall sports this year, in controlling this virus, would be to me the No. 1 priority.”</p><p>The United States has had more than 5 million COVID-19 cases.</p><p>Earlier this week, the Big Ten and Pac-12 became the first Power Five conferences to decide not to play football, or any sports, this fall. Emmert called it a devastating blow.</p><p>College sports administrators and coaches have been making the case schools are providing structured environments with frequent testing and strict protocols that make athletes safer than the general population.</p><p>“We had some positive tests when our student-athletes first came back,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said. “We had a dramatic decrease since they’ve gotten under our umbrella and that’s good. Basically we have our student-athlete under our umbrella. On a college campus where students are going to class, it’s hard to create a bubble.”</p><p>Hainline said about 1%-2% of college athletes who have been tested by schools have been positive for COVID-19.</p><p>Del Rio said conferences are coming to different decisions not because they have different information, but because they are assessing risk differently.</p><p>“Some conferences will say, we’ll go forward. It’s a very narrow path, hopefully they’ll be no infections and if there are infections we’ll be able to detect them, and we we’ll be able to stop them and we won’t have an outbreak,” Del Rio said. “But other conferences say, no. Our tolerance is for zero risk and therefore we will not have it. It’s exactly the same data just being looked at in different ways.”</p>

NCAA cancels fall championships as major football marches on

There has been a lot of speculation the last few days about Nebraksa perhaps leaving the Big 10 and re-joining the Big 12.&nbsp;

The rumors started when the Big 10 on Tuesday announced they would have NO fall sports this year. That same day Coach Frost and members of the university came out and said that they would do everything in their power to keep the options open and wanted to play football.&nbsp;<br><br>Shortly after that Big 10 Commissioner Kevin Warren was asked if Nebraska could go outside the conference to play this season, to which he responded with a resounding NO.&nbsp;

"No," Warren told Yahoo Sports of the possibility that the Cornhuskers could still play this fall. "Not and be a member of the Big Ten Conference."

Early in the day on Thursday Nebraksa president Ted Carter and Chancellor Ronnie Green put out a joint statement:&nbsp;

For Nebraska fans looking to get back to Big 12 play, it looks like greener pastures will have to wait for another time.&nbsp;

<p>There has been a lot of speculation the last few days about Nebraksa perhaps leaving the Big 10 and re-joining the Big 12.&nbsp;</p><p>The rumors started when the Big 10 on Tuesday announced they would have NO fall sports this year. That same day Coach Frost and members of the university came out and said that they would do everything in their power to keep the options open and wanted to play football.&nbsp;<br><br>Shortly after that Big 10 Commissioner Kevin Warren was asked if Nebraska could go outside the conference to play this season, to which he responded with a resounding NO.&nbsp;</p><p>"No," Warren told Yahoo Sports of the possibility that the Cornhuskers could still play this fall. "Not and be a member of the Big Ten Conference."</p><p>Early in the day on Thursday Nebraksa president Ted Carter and Chancellor Ronnie Green put out a joint statement:&nbsp;</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A joint statement from me and <a href="https://twitter.com/UofNE_President?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UofNE_President</a> Ted Carter on the Big Ten. <a href="https://t.co/zRmI5HaBT1">pic.twitter.com/zRmI5HaBT1</a></p>&mdash; Ronnie D. Green (@RonnieDGreen) <a href="https://twitter.com/RonnieDGreen/status/1293903116161544199?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div><p>For Nebraska fans looking to get back to Big 12 play, it looks like greener pastures will have to wait for another time.&nbsp;</p>

Unpack the boxes, Nebraska not jumping conferences

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The surprising (at least to fans) announcement late last week that the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is suspending the fall seasons for football and volleyball probably won’t be the last word, according to Joel Smith, the Chadron State College athletic director.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; More discussions are scheduled and some changes are anticipated as the NCAA, the conferences and the schools try to do what is best for the student-athletes and the athletic programs, he added.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Smith, who is chairman of the RMAC’s Competition Committee, said Monday morning that he already had four zoom meetings scheduled for this week, two of them at the national level and two at the conference level.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “We’re all trying to do the right thing,” Smith said. “We had to make the announcement last week because we had too many questions that were going to take some time to answer. He said they included testing for COVID-19, insurance coverage in case athletes are affected, eligibility of the athletes and scholarships.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The RMAC announcement said the fall sports competition would be moved to the spring, but that also spawned numerous questions, particularly concerning football because of weather implications.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just a week earlier, the RMAC Presidents’ Council announced that conference-only contests would be played this fall, beginning Sept. 18 and 19. The Presidents’ Council also made last week’s decision suspending the fall football, volleyball and soccer seasons, but allowing cross county and golf to be played this fall because they are considered “low risk” sports.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Several other Division II conferences had made similar announcements prior to the RMAC decision. Now, it appears that all DII conferences have decided to forego competition in the “high risk” sports this fall.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Earlier last week, the NCAA Board of Governors and the DII Presidents’ Council mandated that no fall sports national championships will take place in 2020.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While much remains uncertain, Smith said it’s possible football teams this fall may emulate what they’ve been doing in the spring and then play a limited schedule of games in the spring.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “There’s no way football will play 10 games in the spring and then play another 10 in the fall (of 2021), after we certainly hope everything is back to normal,” Smith said.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He added that after visiting with some of his colleagues Monday, it seems probable that volleyball will switch nearly everything that usually takes place in the fall to spring.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; NCAA rules state that coaches may have instructional contact with their athletes a total of 103 days annually. In the past for football, 15 of those days have been utilized in the spring and the remainder in the fall.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Smith added that the NCAA previously had decided that all athletes would have to take COVID tests through their nostrils 72 hours before the contests began.&nbsp; The process is expensive, but Smith said Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts had stated the state would assist with those costs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Other members of RMAC had not received similar assurances at last report, Smith said.

He also stated that the colleges’ current insurance does not cover payments for care necessitated by the virus, making it another item that likely will have to be settled before any competition takes place.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chadron State Head Football Coach Jay Long called the scenario “pretty crazy.”&nbsp;

“As coaches, we try to plan and be well organized and then things become so uncertain,” Long added. “That’s just the way things have happened.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Long said at least 40 and maybe as many as 60 CSC football players have been living in Chadron this summer and working out four or five times a week on their own to get ready for the season.

Some of them went home on Friday when they found out there would be no fall camp, which had been scheduled to start on Friday the 14th&nbsp;following the announcement that the Eagles’ first game would be Sept. 19 against South Dakota Mines in Rapid City.

Long said he is hopeful that all of the players will be back this week to be ready when classes begin on Monday.&nbsp; He and his assistants plan to meet with each of the players individually. By then, more information may be available.

&nbsp;&nbsp;Long said some of those nearing graduation may decide not to play if the schedule remains unsettled. The NCAA has determined athletes who decide not to play because of the virus, but remain in school will retain their athletic scholarships.

&nbsp;Football players will be allowed to participate in up to five games before they would use a year of eligibility, Smith said.&nbsp; Similar rules are established for volleyball and other sports.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chadron State hosted two three-day high school football team camps with nearly 800 participants and two one-day prospect camps, all in July, and received no reports of any COVID-19 problems following them, Long reported.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CSC also hosted volleyball and softball camps during the past month with no negative consequences.&nbsp;

<p><i>By: Con Marshall, CSC Athletics</i></p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The surprising (at least to fans) announcement late last week that the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is suspending the fall seasons for football and volleyball probably won’t be the last word, according to Joel Smith, the Chadron State College athletic director.</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; More discussions are scheduled and some changes are anticipated as the NCAA, the conferences and the schools try to do what is best for the student-athletes and the athletic programs, he added.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Smith, who is chairman of the RMAC’s Competition Committee, said Monday morning that he already had four zoom meetings scheduled for this week, two of them at the national level and two at the conference level.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “We’re all trying to do the right thing,” Smith said. “We had to make the announcement last week because we had too many questions that were going to take some time to answer. He said they included testing for COVID-19, insurance coverage in case athletes are affected, eligibility of the athletes and scholarships.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The RMAC announcement said the fall sports competition would be moved to the spring, but that also spawned numerous questions, particularly concerning football because of weather implications.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just a week earlier, the RMAC Presidents’ Council announced that conference-only contests would be played this fall, beginning Sept. 18 and 19. The Presidents’ Council also made last week’s decision suspending the fall football, volleyball and soccer seasons, but allowing cross county and golf to be played this fall because they are considered “low risk” sports.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Several other Division II conferences had made similar announcements prior to the RMAC decision. Now, it appears that all DII conferences have decided to forego competition in the “high risk” sports this fall.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Earlier last week, the NCAA Board of Governors and the DII Presidents’ Council mandated that no fall sports national championships will take place in 2020.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While much remains uncertain, Smith said it’s possible football teams this fall may emulate what they’ve been doing in the spring and then play a limited schedule of games in the spring.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “There’s no way football will play 10 games in the spring and then play another 10 in the fall (of 2021), after we certainly hope everything is back to normal,” Smith said.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He added that after visiting with some of his colleagues Monday, it seems probable that volleyball will switch nearly everything that usually takes place in the fall to spring.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; NCAA rules state that coaches may have instructional contact with their athletes a total of 103 days annually. In the past for football, 15 of those days have been utilized in the spring and the remainder in the fall.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Smith added that the NCAA previously had decided that all athletes would have to take COVID tests through their nostrils 72 hours before the contests began.&nbsp; The process is expensive, but Smith said Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts had stated the state would assist with those costs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Other members of RMAC had not received similar assurances at last report, Smith said.</p><p>He also stated that the colleges’ current insurance does not cover payments for care necessitated by the virus, making it another item that likely will have to be settled before any competition takes place.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chadron State Head Football Coach Jay Long called the scenario “pretty crazy.”&nbsp;</p><p>“As coaches, we try to plan and be well organized and then things become so uncertain,” Long added. “That’s just the way things have happened.”</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Long said at least 40 and maybe as many as 60 CSC football players have been living in Chadron this summer and working out four or five times a week on their own to get ready for the season.</p><p>Some of them went home on Friday when they found out there would be no fall camp, which had been scheduled to start on Friday the 14th&nbsp;following the announcement that the Eagles’ first game would be Sept. 19 against South Dakota Mines in Rapid City.</p><p>Long said he is hopeful that all of the players will be back this week to be ready when classes begin on Monday.&nbsp; He and his assistants plan to meet with each of the players individually. By then, more information may be available.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;Long said some of those nearing graduation may decide not to play if the schedule remains unsettled. The NCAA has determined athletes who decide not to play because of the virus, but remain in school will retain their athletic scholarships.</p><p>&nbsp;Football players will be allowed to participate in up to five games before they would use a year of eligibility, Smith said.&nbsp; Similar rules are established for volleyball and other sports.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chadron State hosted two three-day high school football team camps with nearly 800 participants and two one-day prospect camps, all in July, and received no reports of any COVID-19 problems following them, Long reported.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CSC also hosted volleyball and softball camps during the past month with no negative consequences.&nbsp;</p>

RMAC's decision to postpone fall sports may not be the last word...

Frustrated Big 10 fans no longer have to wait on the seesaw of indecision.&nbsp;

<b>There will be no Big 10 fall football this year.</b>&nbsp;

The rumors were hanging around all weekend and for the briefest of moments, it seemed that maybe, just maybe the conference would listen to the pleas of its fans, its players, and its coaches.&nbsp;<br><br>Thus it was not so.&nbsp;

According to multiple sources, the presidents throughout the conference voted to not play ANY fall sports (football may be king but a LOT of athletes are affected by this decision). The hope is that the country can get to a place of better control over the pandemic to allow for a spring sports season that would include the fall sports.&nbsp;

The Big 10 is the first of the Power 5 conferences to make the move to cancel or postpone fall sports. It's highly likely that the Pac 12 will shortly follow suit.&nbsp;

The ACC and SEC have both said they will continue on with their plans to play fall sports, meanwhile, the Big 12 is still rife with indecision.&nbsp;

This sets up some interesting possibilities, both Iowa and Nebraska have come out publicly saying that they want to play fall sports, they want to play football and if the Big 10 doesn't want to participate we will take our game elsewhere.&nbsp;

But what is the actual possibility of that happening? In a world where lucrative TV contracts exist, schedules are planned years in advance, where legal issues pop up like a field of mushrooms, will there be any wiggle room for teams to play out their season?&nbsp;

Furthermore, what does this do to the landscape of college football? Millions (Billions?!?) of dollars were lost in mere moments as the presidents of these institutions voted to do, what they felt was best and shut down sports for the fall.&nbsp;

One thing is for certain, in a world where the pandemic rages and we as sports fans look forward to ANY distraction, this is a dark day indeed.&nbsp;<br>

<p>Frustrated Big 10 fans no longer have to wait on the seesaw of indecision.&nbsp;</p><p><b>There will be no Big 10 fall football this year.</b>&nbsp;</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking: The Big Ten has postponed its fall football season and will attempt to play in the spring, according <a href="https://twitter.com/Mark_Schlabach?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mark_Schlabach</a> and multiple reports. <a href="https://t.co/c7aTDTdjtY">pic.twitter.com/c7aTDTdjtY</a></p>&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1293258907314462723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The rumors were hanging around all weekend and for the briefest of moments, it seemed that maybe, just maybe the conference would listen to the pleas of its fans, its players, and its coaches.&nbsp;<br><br>Thus it was not so.&nbsp;</p><p>According to multiple sources, the presidents throughout the conference voted to not play ANY fall sports (football may be king but a LOT of athletes are affected by this decision). The hope is that the country can get to a place of better control over the pandemic to allow for a spring sports season that would include the fall sports.&nbsp;</p><p>The Big 10 is the first of the Power 5 conferences to make the move to cancel or postpone fall sports. It's highly likely that the Pac 12 will shortly follow suit.&nbsp;</p><p>The ACC and SEC have both said they will continue on with their plans to play fall sports, meanwhile, the Big 12 is still rife with indecision.&nbsp;</p><p>This sets up some interesting possibilities, both Iowa and Nebraska have come out publicly saying that they want to play fall sports, they want to play football and if the Big 10 doesn't want to participate we will take our game elsewhere.&nbsp;</p><p>But what is the actual possibility of that happening? In a world where lucrative TV contracts exist, schedules are planned years in advance, where legal issues pop up like a field of mushrooms, will there be any wiggle room for teams to play out their season?&nbsp;</p><p>Furthermore, what does this do to the landscape of college football? Millions (Billions?!?) of dollars were lost in mere moments as the presidents of these institutions voted to do, what they felt was best and shut down sports for the fall.&nbsp;</p><p>One thing is for certain, in a world where the pandemic rages and we as sports fans look forward to ANY distraction, this is a dark day indeed.&nbsp;<br></p>

Its official, no Big 10 football this fall

President Donald Trump on Monday joined a U.S. senator and a number of coaches calling to save the college football season from a pandemic-forced shutdown as supporters pushed the premise that the players are safer because of their sport.

There was speculation two of the five most powerful conferences — the Big Ten and the Pac-12 — might call off their seasons and explore the possibility of spring football.

The Mountain West became the second conference in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivison to do just that, joining the Mid-American Conference in giving up hope on playing any sports in the first semester. Back east, Old Dominion canceled fall sports, too, becoming the first school in college football’s highest tier to break from its league; the rest of Conference USA is going forward with plans to play.

A Big Ten spokesman said no votes on fall sports had been taken by its presidents and chancellors as of Monday afternoon. The conference’s athletic directors were scheduled to meet later in the day, but it’s the university presidents who will have the final say on whether football is played. In the Pac-12, presidents were scheduled to meet Tuesday, a person familiar with the meeting told AP condition of anonymity because the meeting was not being made public,

The powerful Southeastern Conference made clear it was not ready to shutter its fall season.

“Best advice I’ve received since COVID-19: ‘Be patient. Take time when making decisions. This is all new &amp; you’ll gain better information each day,’” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey posted on Twitter. ”Can we play? I don’t know. We haven’t stopped trying.”

A growing number of athletes have spoken out about saving the season, with Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence among a group posting to Twitter with the hashtag #WeWantToPlay. Trump threw his support behind them Monday.

“The student-athletes have been working too hard for their season to be cancelled,” the president tweeted.

That didn’t help the Mountain West, which announced all fall sports including football were postponed. Though Air Force would be permitted the opportunity to play the other service academies, Army and Navy.

Old Dominion dropped out earlier in the day. The Virginia school, a relative newcomer to major college football, canceled fall sports less than a week after C-USA set out a plan to play a football season.

“We concluded that the season – including travel and competition – posed too great a risk for our student-athletes,” ODU President John Broderick said.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh took a different stand, saying the Wolverines have shown that players can be safe after they return to school. He cited Michigan’s COVID-19 testing stats, including 11 positives out of 893 administered to the members of the football program and none in the last 353 tests.

“I’m not advocating for football this fall because of my passion or our players desire to play but because of the facts accumulated over the last eight weeks since our players returned to campus on June 13,” Harbaugh wrote.

Nebraska coach Scott Frost made similar claims and said if the Big Ten doesn’t play, that might not stop the Cornhuskers.

“Our university is committed to playing no matter what, no matter what that looks like and how that looks,” Frost said. “We want to play no matter who it is or where it is.”

Ohio State coach Ryan Day said the Buckeyes might look elsewhere for games, too, and Penn State coach James Franklin on Twitter implored Big Ten leaders to have patience, delay and seek clarity.

Sen. Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican, picked up on the safer-with-football theme in a letter to the presidents and chancellors of the Big Ten.

“Life is about tradeoffs. There are no guarantees that college football will be completely safe — that’s absolutely true; it’s always true,” he wrote. “But the structure and discipline of football programs is very likely safer than what the lived experience of 18- to 22-year-olds will be if there isn’t a season.”

Michigan’s situation falls in line with what many medical staffers are seeing on their campuses.

“We’ve seen it spread thus far within roommates and outside of our facilities primarily. We haven’t seen a lot of spread within athletic facilities themselves,” said Dr. Kyle Goerl, medical director at Kansas State.

Doctors and epidemiologists outside of college sports are less convinced that big-time college football programs decrease the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.

“This is a very convenient, self-serving narrative for people who want college football to happen whether to score political points or for revenue purposes,” said Zachary Binney, an epidemiologist with Oxford College at Emory University. “But I’ve yet to see anyone of them do it with actual data.

“Estimate the risk for me of what would have happened with these students were they not to play college football versus what’s going to happen to them if they do? That’s actually a really complicated, really difficult question to answer. I don’t think we know for sure.”

The number of confirmed infections in the U.S. is more than 5 million, the most in the world.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, said only an NBA-type bubble can really protect college athletes more than the general population and keep the season from being disrupted by the virus.

“If we’re going to try and minimize the risk of the virus, it’s really that the setting of the country as whole is the issue, not really actually the sport,” said Adalja, a member of the NCAA’s COVID-19 advisory panel.

The number of cases per day has declined recently, but not for long enough to say the pandemic has been controlled, said Lucia Mullen, an epidemiologist and analyst for the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.

Mullen hears echos of the nation’s debate over reopening schools in the case made by football players and coaches. Structure and support is healthy for young people, she said.

“The worry with the U.S. is, and this is something I put to the sports as well, we all do want sports back, but it’s going to be incredibly aggravating if we try and bring it back and we have to cancel the season because it’s not working,” she said. “And that it delays us for yet another year and we can’t have any sports for the rest of the year because our virus outbreak is too uncontrollable.”

Adalja said the window for a college football season is closing.

“Because of the fact that we cannot solve these simple problems in a larger community of testing, tracing and isolating,” Adalja said. “If we can’t solve those problems there, it’s going to be very hard to do that in a college campus atmosphere.”

<p>By RALPH D. RUSSO - Associated Press</p><p>President Donald Trump on Monday joined a U.S. senator and a number of coaches calling to save the college football season from a pandemic-forced shutdown as supporters pushed the premise that the players are safer because of their sport.</p><p>There was speculation two of the five most powerful conferences — the Big Ten and the Pac-12 — might call off their seasons and explore the possibility of spring football.</p><p>The Mountain West became the second conference in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivison to do just that, joining the Mid-American Conference in giving up hope on playing any sports in the first semester. Back east, Old Dominion canceled fall sports, too, becoming the first school in college football’s highest tier to break from its league; the rest of Conference USA is going forward with plans to play.</p><p>A Big Ten spokesman said no votes on fall sports had been taken by its presidents and chancellors as of Monday afternoon. The conference’s athletic directors were scheduled to meet later in the day, but it’s the university presidents who will have the final say on whether football is played. In the Pac-12, presidents were scheduled to meet Tuesday, a person familiar with the meeting told AP condition of anonymity because the meeting was not being made public,</p><p>The powerful Southeastern Conference made clear it was not ready to shutter its fall season.</p><p>“Best advice I’ve received since COVID-19: ‘Be patient. Take time when making decisions. This is all new &amp; you’ll gain better information each day,’” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey posted on Twitter. ”Can we play? I don’t know. We haven’t stopped trying.”</p><p>A growing number of athletes have spoken out about saving the season, with Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence among a group posting to Twitter with the hashtag #WeWantToPlay. Trump threw his support behind them Monday.</p><p>“The student-athletes have been working too hard for their season to be cancelled,” the president tweeted.</p><p>That didn’t help the Mountain West, which announced all fall sports including football were postponed. Though Air Force would be permitted the opportunity to play the other service academies, Army and Navy.</p><p>Old Dominion dropped out earlier in the day. The Virginia school, a relative newcomer to major college football, canceled fall sports less than a week after C-USA set out a plan to play a football season.</p><p>“We concluded that the season – including travel and competition – posed too great a risk for our student-athletes,” ODU President John Broderick said.</p><p>Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh took a different stand, saying the Wolverines have shown that players can be safe after they return to school. He cited Michigan’s COVID-19 testing stats, including 11 positives out of 893 administered to the members of the football program and none in the last 353 tests.</p><p>“I’m not advocating for football this fall because of my passion or our players desire to play but because of the facts accumulated over the last eight weeks since our players returned to campus on June 13,” Harbaugh wrote.</p><p>Nebraska coach Scott Frost made similar claims and said if the Big Ten doesn’t play, that might not stop the Cornhuskers.</p><p>“Our university is committed to playing no matter what, no matter what that looks like and how that looks,” Frost said. “We want to play no matter who it is or where it is.”</p><p>Ohio State coach Ryan Day said the Buckeyes might look elsewhere for games, too, and Penn State coach James Franklin on Twitter implored Big Ten leaders to have patience, delay and seek clarity.</p><p>Sen. Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican, picked up on the safer-with-football theme in a letter to the presidents and chancellors of the Big Ten.</p><p>“Life is about tradeoffs. There are no guarantees that college football will be completely safe — that’s absolutely true; it’s always true,” he wrote. “But the structure and discipline of football programs is very likely safer than what the lived experience of 18- to 22-year-olds will be if there isn’t a season.”</p><p>Michigan’s situation falls in line with what many medical staffers are seeing on their campuses.</p><p>“We’ve seen it spread thus far within roommates and outside of our facilities primarily. We haven’t seen a lot of spread within athletic facilities themselves,” said Dr. Kyle Goerl, medical director at Kansas State.</p><p>Doctors and epidemiologists outside of college sports are less convinced that big-time college football programs decrease the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.</p><p>“This is a very convenient, self-serving narrative for people who want college football to happen whether to score political points or for revenue purposes,” said Zachary Binney, an epidemiologist with Oxford College at Emory University. “But I’ve yet to see anyone of them do it with actual data.</p><p>“Estimate the risk for me of what would have happened with these students were they not to play college football versus what’s going to happen to them if they do? That’s actually a really complicated, really difficult question to answer. I don’t think we know for sure.”</p><p>The number of confirmed infections in the U.S. is more than 5 million, the most in the world.</p><p>Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, said only an NBA-type bubble can really protect college athletes more than the general population and keep the season from being disrupted by the virus.</p><p>“If we’re going to try and minimize the risk of the virus, it’s really that the setting of the country as whole is the issue, not really actually the sport,” said Adalja, a member of the NCAA’s COVID-19 advisory panel.</p><p>The number of cases per day has declined recently, but not for long enough to say the pandemic has been controlled, said Lucia Mullen, an epidemiologist and analyst for the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security.</p><p>Mullen hears echos of the nation’s debate over reopening schools in the case made by football players and coaches. Structure and support is healthy for young people, she said.</p><p>“The worry with the U.S. is, and this is something I put to the sports as well, we all do want sports back, but it’s going to be incredibly aggravating if we try and bring it back and we have to cancel the season because it’s not working,” she said. “And that it delays us for yet another year and we can’t have any sports for the rest of the year because our virus outbreak is too uncontrollable.”</p><p>Adalja said the window for a college football season is closing.</p><p>“Because of the fact that we cannot solve these simple problems in a larger community of testing, tracing and isolating,” Adalja said. “If we can’t solve those problems there, it’s going to be very hard to do that in a college campus atmosphere.”</p>

Trump, coaches push for college football as cracks emerge

A well respected sports journalist tweeted out some bad news for college football fans on Monday:&nbsp;

<p>A well respected sports journalist tweeted out some bad news for college football fans on Monday:&nbsp;</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">According to Dan&#39;s source, 12 of the 14 Presidents from the Big 10 have voted against having a Fall College Football season. Iowa and Nebraska were the two that have been pushing to play.</p>&mdash; Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/dpshow/status/1292817293647413248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DP was told an hour ago that the Big 10 and Pac 12 will cancel their football seasons tomorrow... The ACC and the Big 12 are on the fence.. And the SEC is trying to get teams to join them for a season. <br><br>Watch live: <a href="https://t.co/sMaeXQkLfl">https://t.co/sMaeXQkLfl</a> <a href="https://t.co/oSUNGMTEqw">pic.twitter.com/oSUNGMTEqw</a></p>&mdash; Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/dpshow/status/1292810469779136512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div><p>Its been widely rumored that the Big 10 would cancel all its fall sports this season, although no official announcement has happened.&nbsp;</p><p>The Big 10 presidents had a phone call on Sunday about the possibility of cancelling the fall sports season.&nbsp;</p><p>UPDATED</p><p>There are now sources saying that the Big 10 presidents have already voted to not hold a college football season. Although that report has now come underfire as well.&nbsp;</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">From a Big Ten AD: &quot;Lots of BS in that report. I&#39;m not saying we don&#39;t end up there, but we&#39;re not there yet. No vote and it&#39;s not 12-2.&quot;<br><br>This was in regards to the report that has gone viral this morning.</p>&mdash; Sean Callahan (@Sean_Callahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sean_Callahan/status/1292864837580619778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div><p><br><br>The SEC has publicly come out saying they will be doing all they can to have a college football season and are considering adding schools from other conferences that want to play this season.&nbsp;</p>

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