By ERIC OLSON-AP College Football Writer

A group of Nebraska football players filed a lawsuit Thursday, hoping a jury will force the Big Ten Conference to reinstate a fall football season.

The lawsuit in Lancaster County District Court contends, among other things, the players are losing a chance for development, exposure for a possible pro career and won't be able to market themselves to eventually capitalize on name, image and likeness revenue opportunities.

The players want a court order that would keep the Big Ten from going through with its plan to push the football season to the spring. Listed as plaintiffs are Brant and Brig Banks, Alante Brown, Noa Pola-Gates, Jackson Hannah, Garrett Nelson, Ethan Piper and Garrett Snodgrass.

"This lawsuit isn't about money or damages, it's about real-life relief," said Mike Flood, the players' attorney.

The Big Ten said the lawsuit "has no merit and we will defend the decision to protect all student-athletes as we navigate through this global pandemic. We are actively considering options to get back to competition and look forward to doing so when it is safe to play."

Gabe Feldman, director of Tulane University's Sports Law Program, said he doubts the lawsuit goes anywhere.

"This is a statement lawsuit. This is a catharsis lawsuit. This is a publicity lawsuit," Feldman said. "It would be a monumental shift in how the law treats college sports if a judge declared that a conference cannot shut a season down because they thought it was unsafe to play."

<a href="https://apnews.com/0856ff5425c65bb3031d574a43c2252f" target="_blank">The Big Ten announced Aug. 11 it would move its football season from fall to spring</a>&nbsp;because of health risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The Pac-12 and other smaller leagues followed suit.

The lawsuit said the Big Ten's decision-making process was "flawed and ambiguous" and called into question whether the league's Council of Presidents and Chancellors formally voted on the decision. The medical studies used to make the decision, the lawsuit says, were not relevant to the circumstances of college-age athletes and did not take into account school safety measures.

"Sadly, these student athletes have no other recourse than filing a lawsuit against their conference," Flood said. "The presidents and chancellors of these universities have taken inconsistent positions about whether there was a vote, and they have largely failed to explain what positions they took."

Feldman said suing over the Big Ten's health concerns would be like suing over the decision to cancel a game because of lightning.

"There are procedures in place to determine if it's safe to play. There can be legitimate disagreements about the decision," he said. "There is not - and I don't think should be - an avenue to second-guess those decisions. There is an avenue if they decided to play and did not adequately protect the athletes."

Feldman said he believes it would be "very difficult to prove that by choosing not to play that you have somehow harmed the athletes. Particularly when they may play in the spring."

Flood also represents a group of Nebraska football parents that last week sought documents and other materials related to the Big Ten decision. Flood, a former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, owns five radio stations that broadcast Cornhuskers football games as part of the Husker Sports Network.

Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c1226d9e177f79d3b548784383e4cbbe" target="_blank">Flood sent a letter to commissioner Kevin Warren</a>&nbsp;asking for documents relating to any votes taken, how each school voted, meeting minutes and all audio and video recordings and transcripts of meetings where votes were cast. He also wanted copies of studies, scientific data and medical information or advice considered by the presidents.

Flood had threatened a federal lawsuit if the materials weren't delivered to him.

By ERIC OLSON-AP College Football Writer A group of Nebraska football players filed a lawsuit Thursday, hoping a jury will force the Big Ten Conference to reinstate a fall football season.The lawsuit in Lancaster County District Court contends, among other things, the players are losing a chance for development, exposure for a possible pro career and won't be able to market themselves to eventually capitalize on name, image and likeness revenue opportunities.The players want a court order that would keep the Big Ten from going through with its plan to push the football season to the spring. Listed as plaintiffs are Brant and Brig Banks, Alante Brown, Noa Pola-Gates, Jackson Hannah, Garrett Nelson, Ethan Piper and Garrett Snodgrass."This lawsuit isn't about money or damages, it's about real-life relief," said Mike Flood, the players' attorney.The Big Ten said the lawsuit "has no merit and we will defend the decision to protect all student-athletes as we navigate through this global pandemic. We are actively considering options to get back to competition and look forward to doing so when it is safe to play."Gabe Feldman, director of Tulane University's Sports Law Program, said he doubts the lawsuit goes anywhere."This is a statement lawsuit. This is a catharsis lawsuit. This is a publicity lawsuit," Feldman said. "It would be a monumental shift in how the law treats college sports if a judge declared that a conference cannot shut a season down because they thought it was unsafe to play."<a href="https://apnews.com/0856ff5425c65bb3031d574a43c2252f" target="_blank">The Big Ten announced Aug. 11 it would move its football season from fall to spring</a>&nbsp;because of health risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The Pac-12 and other smaller leagues followed suit.The lawsuit said the Big Ten's decision-making process was "flawed and ambiguous" and called into question whether the league's Council of Presidents and Chancellors formally voted on the decision. The medical studies used to make the decision, the lawsuit says, were not relevant to the circumstances of college-age athletes and did not take into account school safety measures."Sadly, these student athletes have no other recourse than filing a lawsuit against their conference," Flood said. "The presidents and chancellors of these universities have taken inconsistent positions about whether there was a vote, and they have largely failed to explain what positions they took."Feldman said suing over the Big Ten's health concerns would be like suing over the decision to cancel a game because of lightning."There are procedures in place to determine if it's safe to play. There can be legitimate disagreements about the decision," he said. "There is not - and I don't think should be - an avenue to second-guess those decisions. There is an avenue if they decided to play and did not adequately protect the athletes."Feldman said he believes it would be "very difficult to prove that by choosing not to play that you have somehow harmed the athletes. Particularly when they may play in the spring."Flood also represents a group of Nebraska football parents that last week sought documents and other materials related to the Big Ten decision. Flood, a former speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, owns five radio stations that broadcast Cornhuskers football games as part of the Husker Sports Network.Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c1226d9e177f79d3b548784383e4cbbe" target="_blank">Flood sent a letter to commissioner Kevin Warren</a>&nbsp;asking for documents relating to any votes taken, how each school voted, meeting minutes and all audio and video recordings and transcripts of meetings where votes were cast. He also wanted copies of studies, scientific data and medical information or advice considered by the presidents.Flood had threatened a federal lawsuit if the materials weren't delivered to him.

Nebraska players' lawsuit seeks to restore B10 fall football

NPHS Softball 8.27: Double Duel vs Omaha Gross, Omaha Skutt

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) - The temperature was approaching 90 and a light breeze was blowing while Jeff Jamrog put his Midland University football team through its paces under the midday sun.

From the street running past Heedum Field, it looked like a typical August practice. A group of linemen hit a blocking sled, there was a skeleton passing drill and a no-tackle scrimmage.

Signs of normalcy vanish at the field entrance. Visitors are checked for fever. A hand sanitizer dispenser hangs on a wooden post a few steps from the gate. Everyone, unless participating in a drill, is supposed to wear a mask.

"It's annoying," linebacker Theo Blum said of masking up. "After the first three or four days most people got used to it. It is what it is. We wear it. Maybe we get the sun off our face a little bit and get nice tan lines. We do what we have to do to play."

While the majority of the nation's college football teams won't play this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic, Midland is among five in Nebraska pushing forward. They do not include the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who will be idle after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0856ff5425c65bb3031d574a43c2252f" target="_blank">the Big Ten decided to push back the season to the spring.</a>

Disappointed Huskers fans will find no consolation in the fact Memorial Stadium will be surrounded by teams - albeit all from small colleges - attempting to carry on as usual. Of the 52 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics schools planning to play, 35 are in Nebraska and bordering states Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota.

Jamrog and Midland athletic director Dave Gillespie each spent nearly two decades with the Huskers as players, coaches and administrators. Both said they feel terrible their alma mater isn't playing this fall and understand the outrage the Big Ten's decision has caused in this state of 1.8 million.

Midland's league, the Great Plains Athletic Conference, announced July 21 it would attempt a football season starting Sept. 12. The NAIA is allowing each team to play nine games, two fewer than usual, but playoffs won't be held until spring.

Gillespie said Midland is following GPAC protocols and local health department guidelines to mitigate the COVID-19 risk.

"There doesn't seem to be any consensus nationally on what the right thing to do is (as far as playing), and you can get a lot of different opinions on that," Gillespie said. "It's not completely safe, and we're never going to make it completely safe. We're trying to make it as safe as possible and take an abundance of caution wherever we need to and can."

Midland football players are required to wear masks indoors. Outdoors, they need to social distance as much as possible when not participating in a drill and use hand sanitizer frequently.

Plexiglass barriers have been installed in the cafeteria and other areas of the athletic facilities. Players shower at their residences instead of in the locker room. There are temperature checks and screening questions every day. Lunches are prepared for takeout. For meals eaten in the cafeteria, players sit 6 feet apart.

The challenge of maintaining the quasi-bubble increases with school starting Thursday. Midland will hold in-person and online classes.

Gillespie said coronavirus testing is done if an athlete shows symptoms. He said there had been a "handful" of positive tests among more than 200 fall athletes. Jamrog said one football player has opted out because of COVID-19 concerns.

Blum said he and his teammates are grateful to have a fall season to look forward to even if it comes with some minor inconveniences.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0c53d50c88dd9fc9132c97d9023128c2" target="_blank">Only 145 of 765 teams in the NAIA and across three divisions of the NCAA are scheduled to play at least one game this fall (19%).</a>&nbsp;Another 57 junior colleges have moved their seasons to the spring.

"I know there are hundreds of thousands of people across the country not getting to play," he said. "That's been a motto for us this year starting out: Every day is a blessing to be able to play."

The Warriors enters the season with momentum. They won six straight to end 2019 and are picked third in the GPAC.

"If we got shut down," Blum said, "everybody would have been heartbroken."

Jamrog, beginning his fifth year at Midland, said he would love it if football-starved Huskers fans wanted to adopt his Warriors as their team for 2020 when they kick off 50 miles from Memorial Stadium. More than 100 of his 150 players are from Nebraska. And in a kidding-not-kidding comment, he invited ESPN's College GameDay show to visit Fremont.

Heedum Field will be limited to 75% capacity. Midland drew about 1,200 fans per game at the 5,000-seat stadium in 2019, meaning there should be plenty of room.

"Hey, Nebraska fans, you guys come out and support us," tight end Austin Harris said. "We're going to be playing ball this fall."

By ERIC OLSON-AP College Football Writer FREMONT, Neb. (AP) - The temperature was approaching 90 and a light breeze was blowing while Jeff Jamrog put his Midland University football team through its paces under the midday sun.From the street running past Heedum Field, it looked like a typical August practice. A group of linemen hit a blocking sled, there was a skeleton passing drill and a no-tackle scrimmage.Signs of normalcy vanish at the field entrance. Visitors are checked for fever. A hand sanitizer dispenser hangs on a wooden post a few steps from the gate. Everyone, unless participating in a drill, is supposed to wear a mask."It's annoying," linebacker Theo Blum said of masking up. "After the first three or four days most people got used to it. It is what it is. We wear it. Maybe we get the sun off our face a little bit and get nice tan lines. We do what we have to do to play."While the majority of the nation's college football teams won't play this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic, Midland is among five in Nebraska pushing forward. They do not include the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who will be idle after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0856ff5425c65bb3031d574a43c2252f" target="_blank">the Big Ten decided to push back the season to the spring.</a>Disappointed Huskers fans will find no consolation in the fact Memorial Stadium will be surrounded by teams - albeit all from small colleges - attempting to carry on as usual. Of the 52 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics schools planning to play, 35 are in Nebraska and bordering states Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota.Jamrog and Midland athletic director Dave Gillespie each spent nearly two decades with the Huskers as players, coaches and administrators. Both said they feel terrible their alma mater isn't playing this fall and understand the outrage the Big Ten's decision has caused in this state of 1.8 million.Midland's league, the Great Plains Athletic Conference, announced July 21 it would attempt a football season starting Sept. 12. The NAIA is allowing each team to play nine games, two fewer than usual, but playoffs won't be held until spring.Gillespie said Midland is following GPAC protocols and local health department guidelines to mitigate the COVID-19 risk."There doesn't seem to be any consensus nationally on what the right thing to do is (as far as playing), and you can get a lot of different opinions on that," Gillespie said. "It's not completely safe, and we're never going to make it completely safe. We're trying to make it as safe as possible and take an abundance of caution wherever we need to and can."Midland football players are required to wear masks indoors. Outdoors, they need to social distance as much as possible when not participating in a drill and use hand sanitizer frequently.Plexiglass barriers have been installed in the cafeteria and other areas of the athletic facilities. Players shower at their residences instead of in the locker room. There are temperature checks and screening questions every day. Lunches are prepared for takeout. For meals eaten in the cafeteria, players sit 6 feet apart.The challenge of maintaining the quasi-bubble increases with school starting Thursday. Midland will hold in-person and online classes.Gillespie said coronavirus testing is done if an athlete shows symptoms. He said there had been a "handful" of positive tests among more than 200 fall athletes. Jamrog said one football player has opted out because of COVID-19 concerns.Blum said he and his teammates are grateful to have a fall season to look forward to even if it comes with some minor inconveniences.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0c53d50c88dd9fc9132c97d9023128c2" target="_blank">Only 145 of 765 teams in the NAIA and across three divisions of the NCAA are scheduled to play at least one game this fall (19%).</a>&nbsp;Another 57 junior colleges have moved their seasons to the spring."I know there are hundreds of thousands of people across the country not getting to play," he said. "That's been a motto for us this year starting out: Every day is a blessing to be able to play."The Warriors enters the season with momentum. They won six straight to end 2019 and are picked third in the GPAC."If we got shut down," Blum said, "everybody would have been heartbroken."Jamrog, beginning his fifth year at Midland, said he would love it if football-starved Huskers fans wanted to adopt his Warriors as their team for 2020 when they kick off 50 miles from Memorial Stadium. More than 100 of his 150 players are from Nebraska. And in a kidding-not-kidding comment, he invited ESPN's College GameDay show to visit Fremont.Heedum Field will be limited to 75% capacity. Midland drew about 1,200 fans per game at the 5,000-seat stadium in 2019, meaning there should be plenty of room."Hey, Nebraska fans, you guys come out and support us," tight end Austin Harris said. "We're going to be playing ball this fall."

Huskers surrounded by college teams pushing on with football

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — All three NBA playoff games scheduled for Wednesday have been postponed, with players around the league choosing to boycott in their strongest statement yet against racial injustice. 

Called off: Games between Milwaukee and Orlando, Houston and Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland. The NBA said all three games would be rescheduled, yet did not say when. The dramatic series of moves began when the Bucks — the NBA’s team from Wisconsin, a state rocked in recent days by the shooting by police officers of Jacob Blake, a Black man — didn’t take the floor for their game against the Magic.

&nbsp;Former Kansas Jayhawk Frank Mason, is a member of the Bucks.&nbsp;

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — NBA players made their strongest statement yet against racial injustice when the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t take the floor for their scheduled playoff game against the Orlando Magic. 

The teams were set to begin Game 5 of their series shortly after 4 p.m. EST, with the Bucks needing a win to advance to the second round. Players had been discussing boycotting games in the bubble after the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. 

More discussions were expected Wednesday, but even before that the Bucks apparently decided they would act. Magic players and referees were on the floor for the game but Milwaukee never took the floor.&nbsp; Former Kansas Jayhawk Frank Mason, is a member of the Bucks.&nbsp;

Following the Bucks decision, the other two playoff games Houston vs. Oklahoma City and Los Angeles vs. Portland have been postponed, according to the NBA.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — All three NBA playoff games scheduled for Wednesday have been postponed, with players around the league choosing to boycott in their strongest statement yet against racial injustice. <div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;It is a great challenge to have an appreciation and a desire to want change. To want something different and better in Kenosha, Milwaukee and Wisconsin and then to go out and play a game.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/BCmHZdFf1P">pic.twitter.com/BCmHZdFf1P</a>&mdash; Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1298706183499513859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Called off: Games between Milwaukee and Orlando, Houston and Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland. The NBA said all three games would be rescheduled, yet did not say when. The dramatic series of moves began when the Bucks — the NBA’s team from Wisconsin, a state rocked in recent days by the shooting by police officers of Jacob Blake, a Black man — didn’t take the floor for their game against the Magic.&nbsp;Former Kansas Jayhawk Frank Mason, is a member of the Bucks.&nbsp;LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — NBA players made their strongest statement yet against racial injustice when the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t take the floor for their scheduled playoff game against the Orlando Magic. The teams were set to begin Game 5 of their series shortly after 4 p.m. EST, with the Bucks needing a win to advance to the second round. Players had been discussing boycotting games in the bubble after the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. More discussions were expected Wednesday, but even before that the Bucks apparently decided they would act. Magic players and referees were on the floor for the game but Milwaukee never took the floor.&nbsp; Former Kansas Jayhawk Frank Mason, is a member of the Bucks.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The NBA and the NBPA today announced that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to not take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, today’s three games – MIL-ORL, HOU-OKC and LAL-POR have been postponed. Game 5 of each series will be rescheduled.&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1298729514403594240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Following the Bucks decision, the other two playoff games Houston vs. Oklahoma City and Los Angeles vs. Portland have been postponed, according to the NBA.

Boycott: NBA playoff games called off amid player protest

By Daryl Bauer Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

By staying versatile and fishing for a variety of species, an angler can almost always find something biting somewhere in the state – even in late summer.

Fishing gets tougher during the summer, but not because the fish do not like the heat or quit feeding. With the peak water temperatures, fish actually feed more during the summer than any other time of year. Fishing gets tough because natural prey is at its peak abundance. Fish almost literally have to do nothing but open their mouths to be full, and so remain difficult to catch, until the next short feeding window.

One great fishing opportunity that comes around every summer is to chase white bass, and perhaps the much larger hybrid striped bass – or wipers – on large Nebraska reservoirs.

Late summer actually provides some of the most exciting opportunities to catch white bass and wipers as those open-water predators chase baitfish toward the surface.

Feeding frenzies erupt as schools of white bass and wipers slash into baitfish on the surface. Besides the boils on the surface, and baitfish jumping out of the water, also look for frenzied gull activity above the surface. The birds will lead the way to hot action.

Anglers will want to ease into casting range without running over the fish and spooking them down. A variety of artificial baits that are the same size and silvery or white colors of the baitfish will work; all a person has to do is get them near feeding fish.

Spoons, spinners, jigs, and crankbaits will all catch fish; use something you can cast far. For even more excitement, throw a top-water bait. When the surface activity slows, try fishing deeper in the same area to pick up a few stragglers.

The best waters in Nebraska for summer white bass and wipers tend to be large reservoirs where those open-water predators thrive. Davis Creek, Calamus, Sutherland, Swanson and Sherman are some of the best reservoirs for white bass this year. Check the annual Nebraska Fishing Forecast for other picks at OutdoorNebraska.gov/fishingforecast.

The best thing about the summer white bass and wiper feeding frenzies is they are most likely to occur during prime times – early and late in the day when it is cooler and more comfortable.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598460432885.png" alt="An angler searches for white bass on an August evening before the sun sets on Calamus Reservoir in Loup County. (Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)" />
 <figcaption>An angler searches for white bass on an August evening before the sun sets on Calamus Reservoir in Loup County. (Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Daryl Bauer Nebraska Game and Parks CommissionBy staying versatile and fishing for a variety of species, an angler can almost always find something biting somewhere in the state – even in late summer.Fishing gets tougher during the summer, but not because the fish do not like the heat or quit feeding. With the peak water temperatures, fish actually feed more during the summer than any other time of year. Fishing gets tough because natural prey is at its peak abundance. Fish almost literally have to do nothing but open their mouths to be full, and so remain difficult to catch, until the next short feeding window.One great fishing opportunity that comes around every summer is to chase white bass, and perhaps the much larger hybrid striped bass – or wipers – on large Nebraska reservoirs.Late summer actually provides some of the most exciting opportunities to catch white bass and wipers as those open-water predators chase baitfish toward the surface.Feeding frenzies erupt as schools of white bass and wipers slash into baitfish on the surface. Besides the boils on the surface, and baitfish jumping out of the water, also look for frenzied gull activity above the surface. The birds will lead the way to hot action.Anglers will want to ease into casting range without running over the fish and spooking them down. A variety of artificial baits that are the same size and silvery or white colors of the baitfish will work; all a person has to do is get them near feeding fish.Spoons, spinners, jigs, and crankbaits will all catch fish; use something you can cast far. For even more excitement, throw a top-water bait. When the surface activity slows, try fishing deeper in the same area to pick up a few stragglers.The best waters in Nebraska for summer white bass and wipers tend to be large reservoirs where those open-water predators thrive. Davis Creek, Calamus, Sutherland, Swanson and Sherman are some of the best reservoirs for white bass this year. Check the annual Nebraska Fishing Forecast for other picks at OutdoorNebraska.gov/fishingforecast.The best thing about the summer white bass and wiper feeding frenzies is they are most likely to occur during prime times – early and late in the day when it is cooler and more comfortable.

Late summer can provide plenty of action for white bass, wipers

By Jerry Kane Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

With fishing bait, you can use things fish want to eat, or things that look, smell like, or mimic things fish think they want to eat.

You can use live, artificial or prepared baits to attract the fish to your hook using movement, vibration, color and/or scent.

New anglers should learn the differences between types of baits and understand how to choose a bait for the type of fish he or she wants to catch.

Live baits Live baits include night crawlers, minnows, crayfish, tadpoles, leeches, grasshoppers, crickets, wax worms, or just about any bug you can catch in your yard. Earthworms are an excellent choice for new anglers and will attract a variety of fish, including bluegill, catfish, crappie and largemouth bass. Live bait always should be fresh and kept alive, and the refrigerator is a good place to store it if your roommates don’t mind.

Some water bodies have regulations against using live fish as bait. If using minnows, make sure the regulations where you are fishing allow for their use. Transferring fish you caught in one water body to another to use as bait is illegal in Nebraska. Read the current Nebraska Fishing Guide at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA4MjUuMjYwODY4NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9ndWlkZXMvIn0.McnhJw57bE5tXkq47Aa-THmsRFrV9mfB4RSSbI9fyVk/s/497221905/br/82781168191-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides</a>&nbsp;for more information.

Artificial baits Artificial baits – or lures – include spinners, spoons, jigs, plugs, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, and more. They come in a variety of styles, colors, patterns and sizes.

Lures are designed to resemble and move like prey, and often will mimic fish or aquatic animals. Even if they don’t look like fish or critters to our eyes, their color patterns, reflections and movements in the water are designed to mimic living things. Some lures are flashy, and fish are instinctively attracted to them.

Lures in natural colors that resemble prey, like silver and white, are useful for clear-water conditions. In murky water, brightly colored lures can be a good pick. Some baits are designed to attract fish with scents and tastes and are effective when targeting fish that don’t feed by sight. Some artificial baits are designed to attract the angler’s money.

The angler also can manipulate the movement and depth of the lures; how fast they are retrieved and the action of the rod to snag a fish.

Prepared baits Who hasn’t seen in stores the rows of jars of brightly colored dough bait designed to catch trout? Dough bait, either commercially made or homemade, is a popular bait to attract catfish, as are chicken livers. Canned corn can be an effective bait to catch bluegill. Frozen shrimp and hot dogs are other examples of prepared baits you probably already have around your home.

If you are just getting into fishing and want more details, a helpful resource for all things beginner fishing is Game and Parks’ Going Fishing Guide, available at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA4MjUuMjYwODY4NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9ob3d0b2Zpc2gvIn0.CJNBsMw5B43MQj9cK88_IshcFQJiQC3a10qIH5936ic/s/497221905/br/82781168191-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNEbraska.gov/howtofish</a>. If you want to take a new angler fishing and become eligible to win prizes, register for the Take ’em Fishing Challenge at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA4MjUuMjYwODY4NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi8ifQ.6xmzRI-ZkjMV7GxuSNrPjkxBjTgkdwPRyM4LgiTApMk/s/497221905/br/82781168191-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.org</a>, where fishing permits also are available.

By Jerry Kane Nebraska Game and Parks CommissionWith fishing bait, you can use things fish want to eat, or things that look, smell like, or mimic things fish think they want to eat.You can use live, artificial or prepared baits to attract the fish to your hook using movement, vibration, color and/or scent.New anglers should learn the differences between types of baits and understand how to choose a bait for the type of fish he or she wants to catch.Live baits Live baits include night crawlers, minnows, crayfish, tadpoles, leeches, grasshoppers, crickets, wax worms, or just about any bug you can catch in your yard. Earthworms are an excellent choice for new anglers and will attract a variety of fish, including bluegill, catfish, crappie and largemouth bass. Live bait always should be fresh and kept alive, and the refrigerator is a good place to store it if your roommates don’t mind.Some water bodies have regulations against using live fish as bait. If using minnows, make sure the regulations where you are fishing allow for their use. Transferring fish you caught in one water body to another to use as bait is illegal in Nebraska. Read the current Nebraska Fishing Guide at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA4MjUuMjYwODY4NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9ndWlkZXMvIn0.McnhJw57bE5tXkq47Aa-THmsRFrV9mfB4RSSbI9fyVk/s/497221905/br/82781168191-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides</a>&nbsp;for more information.Artificial baits Artificial baits – or lures – include spinners, spoons, jigs, plugs, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, and more. They come in a variety of styles, colors, patterns and sizes.Lures are designed to resemble and move like prey, and often will mimic fish or aquatic animals. Even if they don’t look like fish or critters to our eyes, their color patterns, reflections and movements in the water are designed to mimic living things. Some lures are flashy, and fish are instinctively attracted to them.Lures in natural colors that resemble prey, like silver and white, are useful for clear-water conditions. In murky water, brightly colored lures can be a good pick. Some baits are designed to attract fish with scents and tastes and are effective when targeting fish that don’t feed by sight. Some artificial baits are designed to attract the angler’s money.The angler also can manipulate the movement and depth of the lures; how fast they are retrieved and the action of the rod to snag a fish.Prepared baits Who hasn’t seen in stores the rows of jars of brightly colored dough bait designed to catch trout? Dough bait, either commercially made or homemade, is a popular bait to attract catfish, as are chicken livers. Canned corn can be an effective bait to catch bluegill. Frozen shrimp and hot dogs are other examples of prepared baits you probably already have around your home.If you are just getting into fishing and want more details, a helpful resource for all things beginner fishing is Game and Parks’ Going Fishing Guide, available at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA4MjUuMjYwODY4NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9ob3d0b2Zpc2gvIn0.CJNBsMw5B43MQj9cK88_IshcFQJiQC3a10qIH5936ic/s/497221905/br/82781168191-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNEbraska.gov/howtofish</a>. If you want to take a new angler fishing and become eligible to win prizes, register for the Take ’em Fishing Challenge at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA4MjUuMjYwODY4NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi8ifQ.6xmzRI-ZkjMV7GxuSNrPjkxBjTgkdwPRyM4LgiTApMk/s/497221905/br/82781168191-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.org</a>, where fishing permits also are available.

With fishing bait, you don’t always have to keep it real

Eagle Radio once again has been recognized for its outstanding
work on the air within its Nebraska radio footprint.&nbsp; At the annual Nebraska Broadcasters
Association virtual awards ceremony recently, the company took home three
awards for programming in radio broadcasting.

North Platte radio stations KELN/KNPQ/KOOQ were honored with
two Gold Awards; On-Air Announcer Scott Carlson in the Community Service
category for his interview with a Callaway senior whose school
year ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;
The second Gold honor was awarded in the Best Promotional Announcement
category for the stations’ Carrie Underwood Codeword Contest Giveaway promo,
which was produced by Program Director Dave Lee.

Chadron radio station KQSK was honored with a Bronze
Award.&nbsp; Sports Director Dave Collins
earned his third award over the last five years in the Best Sportscast category;
it’s his fifth overall as a member of the Eagle Radio team since joining the
stations in 2015.

Nebraska Market Manager Olivia Hasenauer said, “Our
production team in Nebraska and company-wide is top notch. Eagle and our
employee owners pride themselves on always giving 100% service to our
communities through building strong relationships and results for local
businesses and advertisers, as well as providing high-quality on-air and online
information and entertainment. We are proud to keep our communities connected!”&nbsp;


Hasenauer continued, “We're full spectrum when it comes to
the awards won this year for our Nebraska stations, including sports
broadcasting, community service and promotions. Our team continues to excel and
we were well represented once again at the Nebraska Broadcasters Association
Pinnacle Awards ceremony.”

Eagle Radio of Alliance/Chadron operates KAAQ 105.9 FM, KCNB
94.7 FM, KCOW 1400 AM/92.5 FM, KQSK 97.5 FM, and PanhandlePost.com. Eagle Radio
of North Platte operates KELN 97.1 FM, KNPQ 107.3 FM, KOOQ 1410 AM/98.1 FM, and
NorthPlattePost.com. Founded in 1948, Eagle Communications Inc. is a
Kansas-based media company with over 165 employee owners. The company operates
28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. In addition to radio, the
company offers online solutions, web development, video production, and
creative services. Eagle is the parent company of the Post News Network. For
more, visit eagleradio.net

Eagle Radio once again has been recognized for its outstanding
work on the air within its Nebraska radio footprint.&nbsp; At the annual Nebraska Broadcasters
Association virtual awards ceremony recently, the company took home three
awards for programming in radio broadcasting.North Platte radio stations KELN/KNPQ/KOOQ were honored with
two Gold Awards; On-Air Announcer Scott Carlson in the Community Service
category for his interview with a Callaway senior whose school
year ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;
The second Gold honor was awarded in the Best Promotional Announcement
category for the stations’ Carrie Underwood Codeword Contest Giveaway promo,
which was produced by Program Director Dave Lee.Chadron radio station KQSK was honored with a Bronze
Award.&nbsp; Sports Director Dave Collins
earned his third award over the last five years in the Best Sportscast category;
it’s his fifth overall as a member of the Eagle Radio team since joining the
stations in 2015.Nebraska Market Manager Olivia Hasenauer said, “Our
production team in Nebraska and company-wide is top notch. Eagle and our
employee owners pride themselves on always giving 100% service to our
communities through building strong relationships and results for local
businesses and advertisers, as well as providing high-quality on-air and online
information and entertainment. We are proud to keep our communities connected!”&nbsp;
Hasenauer continued, “We're full spectrum when it comes to
the awards won this year for our Nebraska stations, including sports
broadcasting, community service and promotions. Our team continues to excel and
we were well represented once again at the Nebraska Broadcasters Association
Pinnacle Awards ceremony.”About Eagle Radio:Eagle Radio of Alliance/Chadron operates KAAQ 105.9 FM, KCNB
94.7 FM, KCOW 1400 AM/92.5 FM, KQSK 97.5 FM, and PanhandlePost.com. Eagle Radio
of North Platte operates KELN 97.1 FM, KNPQ 107.3 FM, KOOQ 1410 AM/98.1 FM, and
NorthPlattePost.com. Founded in 1948, Eagle Communications Inc. is a
Kansas-based media company with over 165 employee owners. The company operates
28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. In addition to radio, the
company offers online solutions, web development, video production, and
creative services. Eagle is the parent company of the Post News Network. For
more, visit eagleradio.net

Eagle Radio wins three Nebraska Broadcasters Association Awards

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598286773890.jpeg" alt="nphs guidlines aug 24.jpg" />
 <figcaption>nphs guidlines aug 24.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>

NPHS Spectator guidelines for week of 8.24.2020

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL had 77 positive COVID-19 tests from 11 teams re-examined by a New Jersey lab after false positives, and all those tests came back negative.

The league asked the New Jersey lab BioReference to investigate the results, and those 77 tests are being re-tested once more to make sure they were false positives.

Among teams reporting false positives, the Minnesota Vikings said they had 12, the New York Jets 10 and the Chicago Bears nine.

The Jets canceled a walk-through Saturday night but had a full practice Sunday morning after the previously positive tests came back negative. The Bears moved their practice scheduled for Sunday morning to the afternoon.

The Detroit Lions had a player with a false positive test from the same lab in New Jersey and he was held out of practice Sunday, a league source told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league and team were not disclosing test results.

The Pittsburgh Steelers said they had six false positives and those players will be back at practice Monday. The Philadelphia Eagles held out four players from working out Sunday. The Cleveland Browns initially canceled practice, but after re-testing turned up negative tests they decided to have their workout.

There are five labs nationwide that service the 32 teams, with only the New Jersey facility having the false positives this weekend.

The number of positive COVID-19 tests from a specific facility that might actually be false demonstrates the precarious position the NFL is in less than three weeks from the regular-season opener.

“Definitely probably better that this happened now than three weeks from now,” said Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane, whose club had some of those positive results. “But it seems like every few weeks, or even every week, something’s going on. Who know what the next curveball will be?”

Beane said tests in the Northeast had gone “haywire,” and called it “a lab issue and not a true issue with our guys currently” after several Bills were held out of practice.

Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 — even a false positive upon a retest — is required to have two more negative tests before being cleared to return.

The NFL uses BioReference for all of its COVID-19 testing, though tests are handled by labs throughout the nation to ensure teams get results quickly — hopefully within 24 hours. Heading into this weekend, there had been four confirmed positive tests for players who were at training camps.

“Clubs are taking immediate precautionary measures as outlined in the NFL-NFLPA’s health and safety protocols to include contact tracing, isolation of individuals and temporarily adjusting the schedule, where appropriate,” the NFL said in a statement. “The other laboratories used for NFL testing have not had similar results.”

Jets offensive lineman Leo Koloamatangi, who opted out of playing this season because of family health concerns, tweeted: “Wishing nothing but safety and great health over my brothers and their families right now. As it turns out, testing isn’t as reliable as we’d all hoped.”

The Bears were alerted Sunday morning about the test findings.

“That’s where I was really excited for the way we went about communicating with the coordinators, the coaches, the players early, just letting them know, ‘Hold on for the now. We’re gonna delay this thing. Let us work through this a little bit,’” Bears coach Matt Nagy said.

“And then we were able to get those players and everybody involved in the positive test, we were able to get them in and obviously get re-tested and come back with the second test, and it came back all negative. So now we had to go to, ‘Now, what do we do?’ That’s when we went ahead and figured we were able to move forward with practice. We delayed it.”

Beane stressed the need for transparency throughout the Bills’ organization and said some players were on a conference call with the NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills.

“We had an open dialogue with our players,” he explained. “We even had some of our leadership crew of players on with Dr. Sills this morning just hearing directly with him, who’s aware of all these tests that have gone a little bit haywire here in the Northeast.

“And I think that was good for them to hear, because naturally, if you’re going to be out there tackling and blocking and things like that, passing the ball around, people might be unnerved if we got some guys missing.”

The Browns said initial results from the lab indicated multiple “presumptive positive cases” that included coaches, players and staff. The team did not disclose the number of positive tests and had resumed the scheduled practice about four hours after calling it off.

The team also did a thorough cleaning of the facility in Berea, Ohio.

“We’ve concluded our re-testing of each initial presumptive positive result from yesterday among players, coaches and staff,” a team spokesperson said.

“All have come back as negative, which is consistent with the irregularities across the league from multiple teams. As a result, we are reopening our building and will resume football activities this afternoon. As per protocol, the individuals with test results in question may not re-enter the building until they receive another negative test result tomorrow.”

AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. and Sports Writers John Wawrow, Stephen Whyno, Larry Lage, Tom Canavan, Tom Withers and Andrew Seligman contributed to this report.

By BARRY WILNER - Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — The NFL had 77 positive COVID-19 tests from 11 teams re-examined by a New Jersey lab after false positives, and all those tests came back negative.The league asked the New Jersey lab BioReference to investigate the results, and those 77 tests are being re-tested once more to make sure they were false positives.Among teams reporting false positives, the Minnesota Vikings said they had 12, the New York Jets 10 and the Chicago Bears nine.The Jets canceled a walk-through Saturday night but had a full practice Sunday morning after the previously positive tests came back negative. The Bears moved their practice scheduled for Sunday morning to the afternoon.The Detroit Lions had a player with a false positive test from the same lab in New Jersey and he was held out of practice Sunday, a league source told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league and team were not disclosing test results.The Pittsburgh Steelers said they had six false positives and those players will be back at practice Monday. The Philadelphia Eagles held out four players from working out Sunday. The Cleveland Browns initially canceled practice, but after re-testing turned up negative tests they decided to have their workout.There are five labs nationwide that service the 32 teams, with only the New Jersey facility having the false positives this weekend.The number of positive COVID-19 tests from a specific facility that might actually be false demonstrates the precarious position the NFL is in less than three weeks from the regular-season opener.“Definitely probably better that this happened now than three weeks from now,” said Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane, whose club had some of those positive results. “But it seems like every few weeks, or even every week, something’s going on. Who know what the next curveball will be?”Beane said tests in the Northeast had gone “haywire,” and called it “a lab issue and not a true issue with our guys currently” after several Bills were held out of practice.Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 — even a false positive upon a retest — is required to have two more negative tests before being cleared to return.The NFL uses BioReference for all of its COVID-19 testing, though tests are handled by labs throughout the nation to ensure teams get results quickly — hopefully within 24 hours. Heading into this weekend, there had been four confirmed positive tests for players who were at training camps.“Clubs are taking immediate precautionary measures as outlined in the NFL-NFLPA’s health and safety protocols to include contact tracing, isolation of individuals and temporarily adjusting the schedule, where appropriate,” the NFL said in a statement. “The other laboratories used for NFL testing have not had similar results.”Jets offensive lineman Leo Koloamatangi, who opted out of playing this season because of family health concerns, tweeted: “Wishing nothing but safety and great health over my brothers and their families right now. As it turns out, testing isn’t as reliable as we’d all hoped.”The Bears were alerted Sunday morning about the test findings.“That’s where I was really excited for the way we went about communicating with the coordinators, the coaches, the players early, just letting them know, ‘Hold on for the now. We’re gonna delay this thing. Let us work through this a little bit,’” Bears coach Matt Nagy said.“And then we were able to get those players and everybody involved in the positive test, we were able to get them in and obviously get re-tested and come back with the second test, and it came back all negative. So now we had to go to, ‘Now, what do we do?’ That’s when we went ahead and figured we were able to move forward with practice. We delayed it.”Beane stressed the need for transparency throughout the Bills’ organization and said some players were on a conference call with the NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills.“We had an open dialogue with our players,” he explained. “We even had some of our leadership crew of players on with Dr. Sills this morning just hearing directly with him, who’s aware of all these tests that have gone a little bit haywire here in the Northeast.“And I think that was good for them to hear, because naturally, if you’re going to be out there tackling and blocking and things like that, passing the ball around, people might be unnerved if we got some guys missing.”The Browns said initial results from the lab indicated multiple “presumptive positive cases” that included coaches, players and staff. The team did not disclose the number of positive tests and had resumed the scheduled practice about four hours after calling it off.The team also did a thorough cleaning of the facility in Berea, Ohio.“We’ve concluded our re-testing of each initial presumptive positive result from yesterday among players, coaches and staff,” a team spokesperson said.“All have come back as negative, which is consistent with the irregularities across the league from multiple teams. As a result, we are reopening our building and will resume football activities this afternoon. As per protocol, the individuals with test results in question may not re-enter the building until they receive another negative test result tomorrow.”___AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. and Sports Writers John Wawrow, Stephen Whyno, Larry Lage, Tom Canavan, Tom Withers and Andrew Seligman contributed to this report.

NFL has 77 apparently false positive COVID-19 tests from lab

The Nebraska athletic department made some announcements on Friday that will have long lasting effects on the program. In order to help mitigate a huge $100 million deficit that has cropped up thanks to coronavirus, the program will make the following changes:&nbsp;

51 employees from athletics (330 total from the campus) will be furloughed for four months

The rest of the employees will see a 10% pay reduction through the end of the year

These measures are expected to save just about $3 million according to a statement from the university.&nbsp; "This one is designed to furlough people whose good work is not going to be needed in the fall because we've got no events. What we're going to do is go four months, and I'll tell you why. That gets us to Jan. 1, and I want that to be a new day." said Bill Moos athletic director for the university.&nbsp;

The university has already laid off 17 full-time employees back in June and called for a 10% overall budget reduction.&nbsp;

The university is still looking for ways to chop into the deficit, they are hoping that a spring sports season will have a chance to help fill some of the coffers.&nbsp;

Until then, when it rains it pours and Bill Moos and company are trying to find the biggest umbrella they can to cover as many people as possible.

When it pours it rains it seems.&nbsp;The Nebraska athletic department made some announcements on Friday that will have long lasting effects on the program. In order to help mitigate a huge $100 million deficit that has cropped up thanks to coronavirus, the program will make the following changes:&nbsp;51 employees from athletics (330 total from the campus) will be furloughed for four monthsThe rest of the employees will see a 10% pay reduction through the end of the yearThese measures are expected to save just about $3 million according to a statement from the university.&nbsp; "This one is designed to furlough people whose good work is not going to be needed in the fall because we've got no events. What we're going to do is go four months, and I'll tell you why. That gets us to Jan. 1, and I want that to be a new day." said Bill Moos athletic director for the university.&nbsp;The university has already laid off 17 full-time employees back in June and called for a 10% overall budget reduction.&nbsp;The university is still looking for ways to chop into the deficit, they are hoping that a spring sports season will have a chance to help fill some of the coffers.&nbsp;Until then, when it rains it pours and Bill Moos and company are trying to find the biggest umbrella they can to cover as many people as possible.

COVID hits UNL's wallet, more than 50 furloughed salary reductions in effect 

On Friday Aug 18 the Denver Broncos took another step in their fight against the current pandemic. They told fans to relax in the comfort of their own homes for the week one home opener against Tennessee.&nbsp;

"Working in collaboration with the state and with safety as the top priority, we have made the decision that our home opener against Tennessee at Empower Field at Mile High will be played without fans," the team said in a statement. "We are grateful for the loyalty and enthusiasm that Broncos fans have shown this year—despite such challenging circumstances—but this is the responsible thing to do right now for our community.&nbsp;

"Our organization remains hopeful that we can host a limited number of fans on a gradually increasing basis beginning early this season. Taking a careful, measured approach with attendance will allow us to evaluate and adjust all COVID-19 safety enhancements before moving forward.

"We will continue to work closely and in collaboration with the state to determine the next steps, ensuring we are doing our part to protect the health of our fans and community."

This is a blow to the Denver Broncos as their fans are considered some of the loudest and most effective fans in the NFL.&nbsp;

With the announcement, it means the soonest that fans could attend a game at Empower Field at Mile high would be week three when the Broncos welcome in Tampa Bay and their new quarterback Tom Brady.&nbsp;

This season will see its fair share of ups and downs for fans of all sports. Chalk this up to another loss in the battle against coronavirus.&nbsp;

As a reminder, you can listen to all the Broncos games this season on our radio signal FM 98.1 and 1410 AM.&nbsp;

On Friday Aug 18 the Denver Broncos took another step in their fight against the current pandemic. They told fans to relax in the comfort of their own homes for the week one home opener against Tennessee.&nbsp;A statement by the team reads:"Working in collaboration with the state and with safety as the top priority, we have made the decision that our home opener against Tennessee at Empower Field at Mile High will be played without fans," the team said in a statement. "We are grateful for the loyalty and enthusiasm that Broncos fans have shown this year—despite such challenging circumstances—but this is the responsible thing to do right now for our community.&nbsp;"Our organization remains hopeful that we can host a limited number of fans on a gradually increasing basis beginning early this season. Taking a careful, measured approach with attendance will allow us to evaluate and adjust all COVID-19 safety enhancements before moving forward."We will continue to work closely and in collaboration with the state to determine the next steps, ensuring we are doing our part to protect the health of our fans and community."This is a blow to the Denver Broncos as their fans are considered some of the loudest and most effective fans in the NFL.&nbsp;With the announcement, it means the soonest that fans could attend a game at Empower Field at Mile high would be week three when the Broncos welcome in Tampa Bay and their new quarterback Tom Brady.&nbsp;This season will see its fair share of ups and downs for fans of all sports. Chalk this up to another loss in the battle against coronavirus.&nbsp;As a reminder, you can listen to all the Broncos games this season on our radio signal FM 98.1 and 1410 AM.&nbsp;

Denver Broncos to fans: Stay home week 1

NPHS Volleyball: Jamboree Tri against Kearney and Grand Island Central Catholic

As fall sports are mere hours from beginning, Grand Island school district made a tough choice and one that might resonate throughout the state if they see success.&nbsp; Grand Island simply is telling visiting teams to keep your fans at home.&nbsp;

“We owe it to our students to take the necessary precautions to keep school going,” Grand Island Superintendent Tawana Grover said. “Adjustments have to be made in these uncertain times. Decision made (sic) to be a partner with our community to help reduce community spread. We want to reduce the amount of people traveling from town to town within the state at this time. We thank the visiting schools’ families for understanding.”

The NSAA has been fervent in its message that school districts should make decisions on what is best for them and as such, the NSAA has kept its hands largely out of decisions like this one.&nbsp; Here in Lincoln County, the decision was made about a week ago to keep fans in attendance to immediate family only. This is with an understanding that it is a fluid situation and those restrictions could change, for better or worst, at any time.&nbsp;

Until then, its a new world and we are all taking things one day at a time.&nbsp;

As fall sports are mere hours from beginning, Grand Island school district made a tough choice and one that might resonate throughout the state if they see success.&nbsp; Grand Island simply is telling visiting teams to keep your fans at home.&nbsp;“We owe it to our students to take the necessary precautions to keep school going,” Grand Island Superintendent Tawana Grover said. “Adjustments have to be made in these uncertain times. Decision made (sic) to be a partner with our community to help reduce community spread. We want to reduce the amount of people traveling from town to town within the state at this time. We thank the visiting schools’ families for understanding.”The NSAA has been fervent in its message that school districts should make decisions on what is best for them and as such, the NSAA has kept its hands largely out of decisions like this one.&nbsp; Here in Lincoln County, the decision was made about a week ago to keep fans in attendance to immediate family only. This is with an understanding that it is a fluid situation and those restrictions could change, for better or worst, at any time.&nbsp;Until then, its a new world and we are all taking things one day at a time.&nbsp;

Grand Island Senior High wont let visiting teams bring any fans

Texas A&amp;M allowing 30% of fan capacity at football games

(AP) Texas A&amp;M has established a reduced capacity, distanced seating plan designed to host fans at Kyle Field as safely as possible.

The university's plan focuses on the recommended health protocols and ensures that attendance during the season will comply with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order limiting the normal operating capacity for outdoor sporting venues.

The exact capacity percentage will be determined based on the number of season ticket holders and student sport pass holders who choose to attend.

The football season is scheduled to begin Sept. 26. Initial anticipated attendance to begin the season is approximately 30% of normal stadium operating capacity, but that's subject to change based on state health developments. Kyle Field's capacity is 102,733.

Crimson Tide will be cheered on by 20% of seating capacity

Alabama will allow about 20% capacity for games at Bryant-Denny Stadium this season.

The university released its plans for dealing with COVID-19 at games, noting seating will be set up to allow social distancing.

The Crimson Tide opens its home schedule against Texas A&amp;M on Oct. 3. Southeastern Conference teams are scheduled to play only 10 league games starting on Sept. 26.

Alabama will have mobile-only ticketing and parking to allow for contactless entry for all venues.

Tar Heels still expected to play football despite campus in-person class shut down

North Carolina coach Mack Brown said he remains “confident” that the Tar Heels will play football this season after the school shut down in-person undergraduate classes.

Brown said Tuesday that the school’s move to online courses after recent coronavirus clusters in student housing and a fraternity could ultimately help “create a better seal around our program and a better bubble.”

Brown said team staffers hosted a Zoom call for parents on Monday to address questions. Athletes can choose to remain in current residences, while some football players have previously chosen to opt out of the upcoming season.

Brown said many players were already taking online courses and that the team will continue once-weekly testing of players for the coronavirus.

He said the team is trying to “make sure our players and our staff understand that we’ve got three months here where we cannot go outside for social reasons or to eat or anything else if we want to have our football season.”

Ohio high schools allowed to move forward with football this fall

All Ohio high school sports can go forward this fall, with an option for sports like football or soccer to be delayed until the spring if schools wish, Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday.

The governor’s order takes effect Friday and prohibits spectators at events other than family members or individuals close to athletes, with final decisions on those people left up to schools.

It will be up to schools to police the limits on attendance at sporting events.

Texas A&amp;M allowing 30% of fan capacity at football games(AP) Texas A&amp;M has established a reduced capacity, distanced seating plan designed to host fans at Kyle Field as safely as possible.The university's plan focuses on the recommended health protocols and ensures that attendance during the season will comply with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order limiting the normal operating capacity for outdoor sporting venues.The exact capacity percentage will be determined based on the number of season ticket holders and student sport pass holders who choose to attend.The football season is scheduled to begin Sept. 26. Initial anticipated attendance to begin the season is approximately 30% of normal stadium operating capacity, but that's subject to change based on state health developments. Kyle Field's capacity is 102,733.Crimson Tide will be cheered on by 20% of seating capacityAlabama will allow about 20% capacity for games at Bryant-Denny Stadium this season.The university released its plans for dealing with COVID-19 at games, noting seating will be set up to allow social distancing.The Crimson Tide opens its home schedule against Texas A&amp;M on Oct. 3. Southeastern Conference teams are scheduled to play only 10 league games starting on Sept. 26.Alabama will have mobile-only ticketing and parking to allow for contactless entry for all venues.Tar Heels still expected to play football despite campus in-person class shut downNorth Carolina coach Mack Brown said he remains “confident” that the Tar Heels will play football this season after the school shut down in-person undergraduate classes.Brown said Tuesday that the school’s move to online courses after recent coronavirus clusters in student housing and a fraternity could ultimately help “create a better seal around our program and a better bubble.”Brown said team staffers hosted a Zoom call for parents on Monday to address questions. Athletes can choose to remain in current residences, while some football players have previously chosen to opt out of the upcoming season.Brown said many players were already taking online courses and that the team will continue once-weekly testing of players for the coronavirus.He said the team is trying to “make sure our players and our staff understand that we’ve got three months here where we cannot go outside for social reasons or to eat or anything else if we want to have our football season.”Ohio high schools allowed to move forward with football this fallAll Ohio high school sports can go forward this fall, with an option for sports like football or soccer to be delayed until the spring if schools wish, Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday.The governor’s order takes effect Friday and prohibits spectators at events other than family members or individuals close to athletes, with final decisions on those people left up to schools.It will be up to schools to police the limits on attendance at sporting events.

High schools, big-time college programs showing signs football returning towards "normalcy"

Whether college football players play a lot in the fall, a little in the spring or not all over the next 10 moths, some athletic administrators want to give them a mulligan on the 2020-21 season.

The NCAA Division I Council meets Wednesday with two important issues on the agenda:

— What will happen with the eligibility of fall sports athletes heading into an uncertain season already impacted by the pandemic?

— Should the NCAA stage fall sports championship events in the spring now that most of Division I has punted on trying to play sports in the first portion of the school year?

The Council’s job is to make a recommendation the NCAA Board of Governors can vote on when it meets Friday.

“I think the most forgiving, flexible plan would be the best,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said of the first question.

The council already made one recommendation last week. A year of eligibility and an additional season of competition would be granted to fall sport athletes who opt out of this coming season because of COVID-19 concerns or if they participate in 50% or less of the maximum number of competitions allowed by NCAA rules.

For a football player that would be half or fewer of 12 regular-season games. Most of the Division I teams still hoping to play this fall have fewer than 12 games scheduled. Meanwhile, four FBS conferences and all of FCS have said they won’t play in the fall and instead try to have a spring football season.

Not a single game is guaranteed because of the pandemic, and athletes are wondering what should they do?

“For me and my parents one of the things we’re focusing on is eligibility,” said Stanford defensive back Joshua Drayden, who is part of the players’ rights group We Are United. “We’re just trying to weigh all of our options. Same for a lot of athletes around the Pac-12 and the nation.”

Because of the uncertainty and so many variables, West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, who is part of the DI Council, would like to allow athletes in all fall sports to get an extra year of eligibility and competition, regardless of how much they play and when.

“We talk about the student-athlete experience and definitely the season’s going to be different. With crowd sizes, the number of competitions,” said Lyons, who is also head of the NCAA’s football oversight committee. “Why charge these student-athletes with a year of eligibility? That’s one thing they don’t have to worry about.”

As Lyons and others in college sports describe it, the problem for athletes is not just weighing whether to opt out or in at the start of the season.

There is concern a season filled with disruptions will have players who opted in reversing course before reaching the minimum number of games that would burn a year of eligibility. It also could tempt coaches to hold back players they normally would have played in order to gain that extra year.

Lyons said protecting eligibility for all fall athletes “seems to be getting momentum” among athletic administrators.

Ted Gumbart, commissioner of the Atlantic Sun — which does not sponsor football — said his conference is in favor of raising the percentage of games an athlete would be permitted to play and still get the year of eligibility back.

“My understanding is there will be some discussion about 75%,” said Gumbart, who is also a member of the Council.

“There is going to be a solid argument made in favor of saying, this should be a freebie,” he added.

Calling 2020 a free year for fall sport athletes would mimic what the NCAA did after the spring sports season was canceled by COVID-19 in March. Athletes were guaranteed a make-good on the eligibility, but not guaranteed a scholarship. That would be left up to the school.

The NCAA waived scholarship limits and roster size restrictions in spring sports where necessary to allow for the extra players, but only for this coming season.

The same would have to be done for fall sports. Instead of setting a new cap for football scholarships (85 in FBS and 63 in FCS), the sixth-year seniors would not count against the cap next year.

“How does everybody says it’s fair around the country when one team has 22 seniors that come back and one team has eight seniors that come back?” Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said. “I don’t know there’s going to be any one way that will be fair.”

As for fall championships possibly being held in the spring, Lyons said fields are likely to be cut by as much as 75%, bringing 64-team brackets to 16.

The limited space means conferences big and small could decide holding NCAA championships in sports such as soccer, women’s volleyball and FCS football might not be worth it.

“Access to championships is really important,” Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner Patty Viverito said. “We’re going to continue to advocate for as robust an opportunity as we can get in the spring.”

By RALPH D. RUSSO - Associated PressWhether college football players play a lot in the fall, a little in the spring or not all over the next 10 moths, some athletic administrators want to give them a mulligan on the 2020-21 season.The NCAA Division I Council meets Wednesday with two important issues on the agenda:— What will happen with the eligibility of fall sports athletes heading into an uncertain season already impacted by the pandemic?— Should the NCAA stage fall sports championship events in the spring now that most of Division I has punted on trying to play sports in the first portion of the school year?The Council’s job is to make a recommendation the NCAA Board of Governors can vote on when it meets Friday.“I think the most forgiving, flexible plan would be the best,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said of the first question.The council already made one recommendation last week. A year of eligibility and an additional season of competition would be granted to fall sport athletes who opt out of this coming season because of COVID-19 concerns or if they participate in 50% or less of the maximum number of competitions allowed by NCAA rules.For a football player that would be half or fewer of 12 regular-season games. Most of the Division I teams still hoping to play this fall have fewer than 12 games scheduled. Meanwhile, four FBS conferences and all of FCS have said they won’t play in the fall and instead try to have a spring football season.Not a single game is guaranteed because of the pandemic, and athletes are wondering what should they do?“For me and my parents one of the things we’re focusing on is eligibility,” said Stanford defensive back Joshua Drayden, who is part of the players’ rights group We Are United. “We’re just trying to weigh all of our options. Same for a lot of athletes around the Pac-12 and the nation.”Because of the uncertainty and so many variables, West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, who is part of the DI Council, would like to allow athletes in all fall sports to get an extra year of eligibility and competition, regardless of how much they play and when.“We talk about the student-athlete experience and definitely the season’s going to be different. With crowd sizes, the number of competitions,” said Lyons, who is also head of the NCAA’s football oversight committee. “Why charge these student-athletes with a year of eligibility? That’s one thing they don’t have to worry about.”As Lyons and others in college sports describe it, the problem for athletes is not just weighing whether to opt out or in at the start of the season.There is concern a season filled with disruptions will have players who opted in reversing course before reaching the minimum number of games that would burn a year of eligibility. It also could tempt coaches to hold back players they normally would have played in order to gain that extra year.Lyons said protecting eligibility for all fall athletes “seems to be getting momentum” among athletic administrators.Ted Gumbart, commissioner of the Atlantic Sun — which does not sponsor football — said his conference is in favor of raising the percentage of games an athlete would be permitted to play and still get the year of eligibility back.“My understanding is there will be some discussion about 75%,” said Gumbart, who is also a member of the Council.“There is going to be a solid argument made in favor of saying, this should be a freebie,” he added.Calling 2020 a free year for fall sport athletes would mimic what the NCAA did after the spring sports season was canceled by COVID-19 in March. Athletes were guaranteed a make-good on the eligibility, but not guaranteed a scholarship. That would be left up to the school.The NCAA waived scholarship limits and roster size restrictions in spring sports where necessary to allow for the extra players, but only for this coming season.The same would have to be done for fall sports. Instead of setting a new cap for football scholarships (85 in FBS and 63 in FCS), the sixth-year seniors would not count against the cap next year.“How does everybody says it’s fair around the country when one team has 22 seniors that come back and one team has eight seniors that come back?” Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said. “I don’t know there’s going to be any one way that will be fair.”As for fall championships possibly being held in the spring, Lyons said fields are likely to be cut by as much as 75%, bringing 64-team brackets to 16.The limited space means conferences big and small could decide holding NCAA championships in sports such as soccer, women’s volleyball and FCS football might not be worth it.“Access to championships is really important,” Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner Patty Viverito said. “We’re going to continue to advocate for as robust an opportunity as we can get in the spring.”

Mulligan: Extra year of NCAA eligibility for fall athletes?

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NPHS Spectator guidelines for week of 8.17.2020

THRALL, Texas (AP) — As heat waves rose from the crackling grass next to a cotton field that stretched far into the distance, Rick Porter watched his young football players struggle through a preseason practice.

Under every helmet was a masked player, breathing deep amid the dust and stifling heat topping 100 degrees fahrenheit (38 degrees celsius). August in Texas can be cruel and the coronavirus pandemic has thrown a new set of obstacles in the way.

“Social distancing!” Porter yelled as the players headed for a water break. Nearby were hand-washing stations the coach built himself by drilling holes in long pieces of PVC pipe bought at a local hardware store.

Still, Porter wonders if it will be enough to stave off an outbreak and whether his farming community 40 miles outside Austin will see football on Friday nights.

“I just hope,” Porters says with a sigh through his own cotton mask, “that we still get to play.”

Just like big-time college football, American high school sports is starkly divided on whether to play this fall.

While the national COVID-19 death toll has passed 160,000 and total infections rise above 5 million, more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia have suspended football and other sports at least until spring. Their ranks include California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Maryland and Illinois.

By JIM VERTUNO - Associated PressTHRALL, Texas (AP) — As heat waves rose from the crackling grass next to a cotton field that stretched far into the distance, Rick Porter watched his young football players struggle through a preseason practice.Under every helmet was a masked player, breathing deep amid the dust and stifling heat topping 100 degrees fahrenheit (38 degrees celsius). August in Texas can be cruel and the coronavirus pandemic has thrown a new set of obstacles in the way.“Social distancing!” Porter yelled as the players headed for a water break. Nearby were hand-washing stations the coach built himself by drilling holes in long pieces of PVC pipe bought at a local hardware store.Still, Porter wonders if it will be enough to stave off an outbreak and whether his farming community 40 miles outside Austin will see football on Friday nights.“I just hope,” Porters says with a sigh through his own cotton mask, “that we still get to play.”Just like big-time college football, American high school sports is starkly divided on whether to play this fall.While the national COVID-19 death toll has passed 160,000 and total infections rise above 5 million, more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia have suspended football and other sports at least until spring. Their ranks include California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Maryland and Illinois.But Texas and dozens of other states are pressing on amid questions about safety and COVID-19′s long-term health impact on young athletes.Many teams are already practicing. Utah played its first games this week; at one of them, Davis High coach Mitch Arquette told his players to seize the moment before a 24-20 win over Herriman.“It really is the mantra of 2020: Win the day,” Arquette told the Deseret News. “You don’t know when you’re going to get another. We really don’t. We could have our game canceled next week.”Florida gave its high schools the OK Friday to begin later this month. Football-crazy Ohio was waiting for the go-ahead from Gov. Mike DeWine, who has hinted schools will be allowed to play a shortened season. One top recruit has already decided he won’t: Defensive end Jack Sawyer tweeted that he won″t play and will wait to join Ohio State in the spring.Texas, which has by far the most high school football players in the nation with about 170,000, will play despite a COVID-19 death toll approaching 10,000 and health experts predicting a rise in new cases as schools open their classroms. The Lone Star State will stagger its season with small schools kicking off in late August and the big schools in late September.Recent decisions by the Big Ten and the Pac-12 to call off fall sports raise a new dilemma for high schools. If two college conferences, with some of the nation’s most prestigious universities and medical expertise, were willing to abandon sports then should high schools be playing?“That’s a good question. I don’t think anybody has the right answer,” said Dr. Susannah Briskin, associate professor of pediatric sports medicine at Rainbow Babies and Children’s hospital in Cleveland.“We certainly know the majority of kids don’t develop any severe symptoms from COVID, but they absolutely can. They’re susceptible to a more significant disease course, but at this juncture it’s less often than the older population,” said Briskin, who also serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness.The AAP recommends that any high school athlete who shows symptoms of COVID-19 sit out for two to four weeks and not return until they see a doctor. The group discourages testing unless an athlete is symptomatic or has been exposed to someone who is sick.At the college level, schools can throw massive resources at both testing and follow-up care for athletes. The Big 12 Conference will require players to be tested three times per week and anyone who tests positive must clear rigorous heart exams, including echocardiograms, a cardiac MRI, blood tests and other tests before they are cleared to return.Briskin doesn’t see any high schools likely to match that sort of concentrated testing and medical care. High school officials across the country have generally not required testing because of cost and availability, and timely access to a cardiologist can be a problem in both rural and urban areas.“At the high school level, the onus falls on the athlete’s family to be sure the kids are taken care of,” Briskin said.Texas will require any athlete diagnosed with COVID-19 to be cleared by a doctor to return to play. Officials for the University Interscholastic League, the governing body for Texas public high school sports, declined to comment on the Big 12′s testing requirements and said no further rules changes were planned.Still, Porter wondered if stricter standards will be coming eventually in Texas or elsewhere, hurdles he says would be impossibly high for small schools like his to clear.“If they just came out in high school and said y’all need to test every kid once a week, you would probably lose every (small) school program,” said Porter, who is also the Thrall athletic director.He noted that athletes at the University of Texas not far away will be “well taken care of.”“Can we even get a test back in time, in a 7-day or 14-day turnaround?” he asked. “If you can pick any one of the things (colleges) are doing, I think it would shut down almost all of the highs schools in the state of Texas.”