Jordan Burroughs, the face of U.S. wrestling for nearly a decade, said he plans to compete another four years with the hope of finishing his career at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Burroughs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jordanburroughs.com/blog/one-last-ride-then-im-headed-home" target="_blank">laid out his future in a statement</a>&nbsp;Wednesday, saying he will leave his longtime training headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska, and join the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center in Philadelphia as a resident athlete in September 2021.

Burroughs competed as a collegian at Nebraska and has continued to train under coach Mark Manning the past 14 years. Burroughs, 32, said he and his wife have always wanted to move closer to his hometown of Sicklerville, New Jersey, a short drive from Philadelphia.

"Over the last three months I've had a considerable amount of time to think about my future," Burroughs said. "Is it my time? Should I walk away? Will this Olympic cycle be the last for me? Should I leave my shoes on the mat and move on to the next season of life?

"The answer is simple. Not yet. My body is strong. My mind is sharp. I love this sport, and I'm not finished. I will continue. But in a new place. Back where it all started."

Burroughs won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London, and he won world championships in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. He also earned bronzes at worlds in 2014, 2018 and 2019.

He's one of three American wrestlers to win four or more world golds, and his combined eight medals at worlds and in the Olympics are the third most in U.S. wrestling history. He has won 189 of 198 matches as a senior freestyle wrestler.

Burroughs, who failed to medal at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, will attempt to make a third straight Olympics next year when the U.S. trials are held in advance of the rescheduled Tokyo games.

Manning said he and Burroughs had been talking about the future since it was announced in March that the 2020 Olympics would be pushed back to next year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The plan was always for Jordan to wrestle until 2020 and move on after that," Manning said. "He has the next phases of life, and he wants to open a big club in Philadelphia."

But Manning said Burroughs still has his quickness, he's as good as ever technically, he has good health and, most important, still has passion.

"In our sport it's hard to tell an aged veteran like that to stop wrestling or keep wrestling," Manning said. "You have to have the inner desire in a sport like wrestling to say, 'Hey, I've had enough,' or 'Hey, I haven't had enough. I've got years left in me.' That's what Jordan was conveying to me."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594856768386.png" alt="3rd Place Match: Jordan Ernest Burroughs (United States) over Mao Okui (Japan) • TF 10-0 - 2019 World Championships(Photo:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mlundy/">Mark Lundy</a>) " />
 <figcaption>3rd Place Match: Jordan Ernest Burroughs (United States) over Mao Okui (Japan) • TF 10-0 - 2019 World Championships(Photo:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mlundy/">Mark Lundy</a>) </figcaption>
 </figure>By-ERIC OLSON-AP Sports Writer Jordan Burroughs, the face of U.S. wrestling for nearly a decade, said he plans to compete another four years with the hope of finishing his career at the Paris Olympics in 2024.Burroughs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jordanburroughs.com/blog/one-last-ride-then-im-headed-home" target="_blank">laid out his future in a statement</a>&nbsp;Wednesday, saying he will leave his longtime training headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska, and join the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center in Philadelphia as a resident athlete in September 2021.Burroughs competed as a collegian at Nebraska and has continued to train under coach Mark Manning the past 14 years. Burroughs, 32, said he and his wife have always wanted to move closer to his hometown of Sicklerville, New Jersey, a short drive from Philadelphia."Over the last three months I've had a considerable amount of time to think about my future," Burroughs said. "Is it my time? Should I walk away? Will this Olympic cycle be the last for me? Should I leave my shoes on the mat and move on to the next season of life?"The answer is simple. Not yet. My body is strong. My mind is sharp. I love this sport, and I'm not finished. I will continue. But in a new place. Back where it all started."Burroughs won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London, and he won world championships in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. He also earned bronzes at worlds in 2014, 2018 and 2019.He's one of three American wrestlers to win four or more world golds, and his combined eight medals at worlds and in the Olympics are the third most in U.S. wrestling history. He has won 189 of 198 matches as a senior freestyle wrestler.Burroughs, who failed to medal at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, will attempt to make a third straight Olympics next year when the U.S. trials are held in advance of the rescheduled Tokyo games.Manning said he and Burroughs had been talking about the future since it was announced in March that the 2020 Olympics would be pushed back to next year because of the coronavirus pandemic."The plan was always for Jordan to wrestle until 2020 and move on after that," Manning said. "He has the next phases of life, and he wants to open a big club in Philadelphia."But Manning said Burroughs still has his quickness, he's as good as ever technically, he has good health and, most important, still has passion."In our sport it's hard to tell an aged veteran like that to stop wrestling or keep wrestling," Manning said. "You have to have the inner desire in a sport like wrestling to say, 'Hey, I've had enough,' or 'Hey, I haven't had enough. I've got years left in me.' That's what Jordan was conveying to me."

US wrestling star Burroughs planning to compete until 2024

By Jerry Kane Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

A well-tied fishing knot can make the difference between a great day and heartbreak.

For a new angler, landing a nice fish knowing the hook is secured by a strong knot is a satisfying feeling. On the other hand, losing that same fish with a subpar knot is disappointing – and unnecessary.

Beginner anglers only need to learn how to tie a few knots, but they need to know how and why to tie them correctly.

“Tying a good knot is arguably the most important skill the angler can learn,” said Larry Pape, aquatic education specialist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “The knot is the weakest part of the line and, if poorly tied, could result in a lost lure or fish. A bad knot will either pull loose when pressure is put on it or cinch down tight and sever the line.”

Pape says the key to good knots is to practice tying them at home – often – using materials simulating fishing line and a hook eye in a larger scale. Tie a large rope, such as a clothesline, to a key ring, watching the knot develop.

Perfecting your skills at home will allow you to quickly and confidently tie a strong knot at the lake.

For the beginning angler, there are three essential knots:

• Arbor knot – This is used to attached the line to the fishing reel’s spool.

• Improved clinch knot – This is used to tie monofilament fishing line to a hook or lure. It works well for smaller hooks.

• Palomar knot – This is used to tie braiding fishing line to a hook or lure. An improved clinch knot will slip loose on braided line.

Key things to remember when tying fishing knots:

• Don’t rush pulling the knot tight. The goal is to get even wraps of line at the knot, so slowly pull tight and adjust the wraps as you go. Uneven wraps can weaken a knot.

• Once a knot is tied and before you pull it tight, wet the knot. Pulling tight a dry knot creates friction and heat, which weakens the knot.

• Avoid developing knots that pinch and weaken themselves, such as an overhand knot.

• When fishing with the same hook or lure for extended periods of time, occasionally cut the line and retie the knot. Over time, knots can get nicked by rocks, fish and hook-removal tools.

• Every angler should have tools to remove hooks from fish and to cut line. For monofilament line, nail clippers work well.

To learn how to tie fishing knots, or if you are just getting into fishing, a helpful resource is Game and Parks’ Going Fishing Guide, available at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA3MTUuMjQ0NDQ4MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9ob3d0b2Zpc2gvIn0.eKptzCxSkPm5GeudqGu5Y0OgYQ9bUKOc1-wkIl5POMY/s/401498001/br/81104119360-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.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA3MTUuMjQ0NDQ4MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi8ifQ.elkb9GvbTeK3YD8l-09e4HnZNvG-FjWT7aHst8ybkWw/s/401498001/br/81104119360-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594848928971.png" alt="Tying good fishing knots is one of the most important skills a new angler can learn. (Nebraskaland Magazine/NGPC)" />
 <figcaption>Tying good fishing knots is one of the most important skills a new angler can learn. (Nebraskaland Magazine/NGPC)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Jerry Kane Nebraska Game and Parks CommissionA well-tied fishing knot can make the difference between a great day and heartbreak.For a new angler, landing a nice fish knowing the hook is secured by a strong knot is a satisfying feeling. On the other hand, losing that same fish with a subpar knot is disappointing – and unnecessary.Beginner anglers only need to learn how to tie a few knots, but they need to know how and why to tie them correctly.“Tying a good knot is arguably the most important skill the angler can learn,” said Larry Pape, aquatic education specialist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “The knot is the weakest part of the line and, if poorly tied, could result in a lost lure or fish. A bad knot will either pull loose when pressure is put on it or cinch down tight and sever the line.”Pape says the key to good knots is to practice tying them at home – often – using materials simulating fishing line and a hook eye in a larger scale. Tie a large rope, such as a clothesline, to a key ring, watching the knot develop.Perfecting your skills at home will allow you to quickly and confidently tie a strong knot at the lake.For the beginning angler, there are three essential knots:• Arbor knot – This is used to attached the line to the fishing reel’s spool.• Improved clinch knot – This is used to tie monofilament fishing line to a hook or lure. It works well for smaller hooks.• Palomar knot – This is used to tie braiding fishing line to a hook or lure. An improved clinch knot will slip loose on braided line.Key things to remember when tying fishing knots:• Don’t rush pulling the knot tight. The goal is to get even wraps of line at the knot, so slowly pull tight and adjust the wraps as you go. Uneven wraps can weaken a knot.• Once a knot is tied and before you pull it tight, wet the knot. Pulling tight a dry knot creates friction and heat, which weakens the knot.• Avoid developing knots that pinch and weaken themselves, such as an overhand knot.• When fishing with the same hook or lure for extended periods of time, occasionally cut the line and retie the knot. Over time, knots can get nicked by rocks, fish and hook-removal tools.• Every angler should have tools to remove hooks from fish and to cut line. For monofilament line, nail clippers work well.To learn how to tie fishing knots, or if you are just getting into fishing, a helpful resource is Game and Parks’ Going Fishing Guide, available at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA3MTUuMjQ0NDQ4MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi9ob3d0b2Zpc2gvIn0.eKptzCxSkPm5GeudqGu5Y0OgYQ9bUKOc1-wkIl5POMY/s/401498001/br/81104119360-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.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMDA3MTUuMjQ0NDQ4MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vb3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi8ifQ.elkb9GvbTeK3YD8l-09e4HnZNvG-FjWT7aHst8ybkWw/s/401498001/br/81104119360-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>.

Well-tied knots important for any new angler

By GREG ECHLIN <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/college-football-schedules-unsettled-coronavirus-cases-spike-kansas-and-us">Kansas News Service</a>

BALDWIN CITY, Kansas — College athletics departments
 in Kansas are needing to make a call as the number of coronavirus cases
 climb across the country and in their own ranks: Cancel fall sports, 
delay them until the spring, try in-conference games only or something 
in between.

At the center of it all is football — the 
high-contact sport that brings in money from the top college level to 
the small schools.&nbsp;

Dozens of schools have reported coronavirus 
cases among team members at voluntary workouts. And earlier this summer,
 Kansas State became one of the first major college teams in the country
 to shut the workouts down because of a high number of positive tests. 
The University of Kansas soon followed suit.

Already, three of 
the five major college conferences (Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference 
and Pac-12) have said they’ll only play against teams in their 
conference. The Ivy and Patriot leagues are calling off their fall 
seasons entirely. The National Junior College Athletic Association voted
 to move football to the spring.

The Big 12, which includes KU and K-State, is expected to make its decision at the end of the month.

Without
 the money from big-time sports, universities that are already hurting 
financially after having to shift fully online in the spring will 
suffer. But so will the college towns.

Baker University drives 
the economy in Baldwin City, Kansas, a town of more than 4,700 that’s 
about a half-hour from Lawrence. Of the roughly 800-plus students on 
campus at Baker, 66% play one of the school’s 24 varsity sports.

In
 early June, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 
(NAIA) announced that all of its schools — Baker included — would be 
reduced to nine regular-season games from 11. It’s still uncertain if 
fans will be allowed to attend the home games because the NAIA is 
leaving it up to schools to follow state and local requirements.

“The potential of not having our family at games, it’s something 
that’s going to be very, very different,” Baker athletics director Nate 
Houser said.

Already, Baldwin City’s 63rd annual Maple Leaf 
Festival has been cancelled for the fall. Apryl Strawn, the manager of 
Jo’s Diner in town, said the possibility of football without fans could 
be devastating to their business.&nbsp;

“It’ll be awful,” Strawn said. “It’ll be absolutely awful.”&nbsp;

The athletes’ health vs. financial health&nbsp;

Whether
 football is played in Baldwin City or at KU, the issue is the same: How
 do you avoid transmission of coronavirus in a sport where you’re lined 
up next to each other and hit other players constantly?

It’s a question KU Director of Athletics Jeff Long has been pondering all summer, and hasn’t been able to answer.

"We
 don’t know what the impact of practicing, closed-quarters hitting, 
tackling, all those things will have on a team,” Long said during a 
Kansas City Public Library virtual forum last month.

Players came
 back to campus for voluntary workouts from all over the country, 
including Texas, which has seen a dramatic spike in cases.&nbsp;

But epidemiologist Dr. Chris Hostler, who is a consultant for the NFL
 and the Big 12 (which KU and K-State are a part of), said coronavirus 
can be anywhere.

“We’re going to continue to have athletes and 
staff who are positives, who are coming from different areas of the 
country,” said Hostler, who is based in Durham, North Carolina. “Or even
 just remaining in their communities.”

And there’s another thing 
to consider: If any scholarship athlete, man or woman, chooses to sit 
out this fall as a health precaution, would he or she lose that full 
ride to college? The Pac-12 says no. With the Big 12 leaving it up to 
its members — K-State says it will honor scholarships but is still 
working out the terms of the language, while KU hadn’t provided its 
policy by the time this story went to print.&nbsp;

But more than 
anything, college administrators are aware of the added financial pinch 
if there are no college football games this fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“When people 
ask, ‘Why is it so important for you to play football, play basketball?”
 It’s to generate the revenue to fund that program,” Long said.

A major college football program like KU or K-State generates an average of $78 million according to a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2020/04/14/college-football-major-programs-could-see-billions-revenue-go-away/2989466001/">recent study by USA Today</a>.

Within
 the Big 12, the Texas schools (Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and TCU) 
figure to already see less money. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently 
mandated that no schools can have more than 50% fan capacity at home 
games.

But Hostler said what’s happening in Texas won’t dictate a uniform set of recommendations.

“What
 happens in West Virginia is going to be very different than what 
happens a couple states away in Iowa or in Oklahoma,” he said.

Greg Echlin is a freelance sports reporter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594758329334.png" alt=" Kansas State's football team had several players test positive for COVID-19 this summer. Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo" />
 <figcaption> Kansas State's football team had several players test positive for COVID-19 this summer. Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG ECHLIN <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/college-football-schedules-unsettled-coronavirus-cases-spike-kansas-and-us">Kansas News Service</a>BALDWIN CITY, Kansas — College athletics departments
 in Kansas are needing to make a call as the number of coronavirus cases
 climb across the country and in their own ranks: Cancel fall sports, 
delay them until the spring, try in-conference games only or something 
in between.At the center of it all is football — the 
high-contact sport that brings in money from the top college level to 
the small schools.&nbsp;Dozens of schools have reported coronavirus 
cases among team members at voluntary workouts. And earlier this summer,
 Kansas State became one of the first major college teams in the country
 to shut the workouts down because of a high number of positive tests. 
The University of Kansas soon followed suit.Already, three of 
the five major college conferences (Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference 
and Pac-12) have said they’ll only play against teams in their 
conference. The Ivy and Patriot leagues are calling off their fall 
seasons entirely. The National Junior College Athletic Association voted
 to move football to the spring.The Big 12, which includes KU and K-State, is expected to make its decision at the end of the month.Without
 the money from big-time sports, universities that are already hurting 
financially after having to shift fully online in the spring will 
suffer. But so will the college towns.Baker University drives 
the economy in Baldwin City, Kansas, a town of more than 4,700 that’s 
about a half-hour from Lawrence. Of the roughly 800-plus students on 
campus at Baker, 66% play one of the school’s 24 varsity sports.In
 early June, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 
(NAIA) announced that all of its schools — Baker included — would be 
reduced to nine regular-season games from 11. It’s still uncertain if 
fans will be allowed to attend the home games because the NAIA is 
leaving it up to schools to follow state and local requirements.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594758388532.jpeg" alt=" Nate House is Baker University's athletic director. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Nate House is Baker University's athletic director. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>“The potential of not having our family at games, it’s something 
that’s going to be very, very different,” Baker athletics director Nate 
Houser said.Already, Baldwin City’s 63rd annual Maple Leaf 
Festival has been cancelled for the fall. Apryl Strawn, the manager of 
Jo’s Diner in town, said the possibility of football without fans could 
be devastating to their business.&nbsp;“It’ll be awful,” Strawn said. “It’ll be absolutely awful.”&nbsp;The athletes’ health vs. financial health&nbsp;Whether
 football is played in Baldwin City or at KU, the issue is the same: How
 do you avoid transmission of coronavirus in a sport where you’re lined 
up next to each other and hit other players constantly?It’s a question KU Director of Athletics Jeff Long has been pondering all summer, and hasn’t been able to answer."We
 don’t know what the impact of practicing, closed-quarters hitting, 
tackling, all those things will have on a team,” Long said during a 
Kansas City Public Library virtual forum last month.Players came
 back to campus for voluntary workouts from all over the country, 
including Texas, which has seen a dramatic spike in cases.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594758418685.jpeg" alt=" The field before last year's KU vs. K-State rivarly game. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo" />
 <figcaption> The field before last year's KU vs. K-State rivarly game. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>But epidemiologist Dr. Chris Hostler, who is a consultant for the NFL
 and the Big 12 (which KU and K-State are a part of), said coronavirus 
can be anywhere.“We’re going to continue to have athletes and 
staff who are positives, who are coming from different areas of the 
country,” said Hostler, who is based in Durham, North Carolina. “Or even
 just remaining in their communities.”And there’s another thing 
to consider: If any scholarship athlete, man or woman, chooses to sit 
out this fall as a health precaution, would he or she lose that full 
ride to college? The Pac-12 says no. With the Big 12 leaving it up to 
its members — K-State says it will honor scholarships but is still 
working out the terms of the language, while KU hadn’t provided its 
policy by the time this story went to print.&nbsp;But more than 
anything, college administrators are aware of the added financial pinch 
if there are no college football games this fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;“When people 
ask, ‘Why is it so important for you to play football, play basketball?”
 It’s to generate the revenue to fund that program,” Long said.A major college football program like KU or K-State generates an average of $78 million according to a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2020/04/14/college-football-major-programs-could-see-billions-revenue-go-away/2989466001/">recent study by USA Today</a>.Within
 the Big 12, the Texas schools (Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and TCU) 
figure to already see less money. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently 
mandated that no schools can have more than 50% fan capacity at home 
games.But Hostler said what’s happening in Texas won’t dictate a uniform set of recommendations.“What
 happens in West Virginia is going to be very different than what 
happens a couple states away in Iowa or in Oklahoma,” he said.Greg Echlin is a freelance sports reporter.

College football schedules unsettled as virus cases spike

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Left-hander&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31114/danny-duffy">Danny Duffy</a>&nbsp;will start for the&nbsp;Kansas City Royals&nbsp;when they open the season in Cleveland next week.

Duffy, 31, will make his third start on Opening Day, although this one is far different than the others because of the coronavirus pandemic. The game July 24 will begin a season shortened to 60 games that will last through August and September.

Right-hander&nbsp;Brad Keller, who started on Opening Day last season, is sidelined after testing positive for the coronavirus. He is one of four players expected to make the Royals' initial 30-man roster who are awaiting two negative tests in a 24-hour span to return to the club. The others are first baseman&nbsp;Ryan O'Hearn&nbsp;and catchers&nbsp;Salvador Perez&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cam Gallagher.

Duffy went 7-6 with a 4.34 ERA in 23 starts last season.

By Associated PressKANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Left-hander&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31114/danny-duffy">Danny Duffy</a>&nbsp;will start for the&nbsp;Kansas City Royals&nbsp;when they open the season in Cleveland next week.Duffy, 31, will make his third start on Opening Day, although this one is far different than the others because of the coronavirus pandemic. The game July 24 will begin a season shortened to 60 games that will last through August and September.Right-hander&nbsp;Brad Keller, who started on Opening Day last season, is sidelined after testing positive for the coronavirus. He is one of four players expected to make the Royals' initial 30-man roster who are awaiting two negative tests in a 24-hour span to return to the club. The others are first baseman&nbsp;Ryan O'Hearn&nbsp;and catchers&nbsp;Salvador Perez&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cam Gallagher.Duffy went 7-6 with a 4.34 ERA in 23 starts last season.

Danny Duffy named Opening Day starter for Royals

The Patriot League joined the Ivy League on Monday, punting on football and other fall sports because of the coronavirus pandemic while holding out hope the games can be made up.

The Patriot League said its 10 Division I schools will also not compete in men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and field hockey. The conference’s council of presidents said the league will consider playing those seasons in the winter and spring if possible.

“Really, really tough decision,” Patriot League Commissioner Jennifer Heppel said. “Nobody’s happy. Happy is a word that’s kind of gone out the window.”

The conference is mostly comprised of private schools located in the Northeast that offer limited athletic scholarships. Pennsylvania rivals Lehigh and Lafayette have played 155 times, more than any opponents in college football history.

Army and Navy are also Patriot League members, but not in football.

Heppel said news about the United States’ inability to control the pandemic coming out of the July 4 weekend heightened concern within the Patriot League about its ability to safely conduct a sports season.

“That really spurred a lot of individual conversations of, ’What are you thinking? Where are you? How might we best begin to think about moving forward?” she said. “And that led into more collective conversations last week.”

The Patriot League competes in Division I’s second tier of college football (FCS) like the&nbsp;Ivy League, which announced a similar decision last week.&nbsp;Unlike the Ivy League, the Patriot League participates in the FCS playoffs.

“Of course you take note,” Heppel said of the Ivy’s decision. “When a decision that’s made like the Ivy made that hadn’t been made before, you want to understand because information is valuable.”

Later Monday, the National Junior College Athletic Association announced it was not having a fall season and planned to move football and other sports to the spring.

Meanwhile, at the top of college sports, Southeastern Conference athletic directors met in person in Birmingham, Alabama, to discuss how the SEC can have a football season as COVID-19 cases spike throughout much of the South.

“It is clear that current circumstances related to COVID-19 must improve and we will continue to closely monitor developments around the virus on a daily basis,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement after the meeting.

The meeting had been scheduled for a while but came just days after the&nbsp;Big Ten&nbsp;and&nbsp;Pac-12&nbsp;said they would play conference-only schedules this fall in football and a number of other sports.

“We believe that late July will provide the best clarity for making the important decisions ahead of us,” Sankey said.

SEC football media days, the unofficial start of the season for many fans, had been scheduled to begin this week, but the pandemic forced all FBS conferences to hold those events online this year. Even some of those — for the SEC and ACC — are now on hold.

Some programs are taking steps toward playing and even starting football seasons on time. Monday was the first day the NCAA allowed football players to take part in mandatory team activities with coaches, including unpadded walk-through practices.

Florida State posted a video on social media&nbsp;of its team hitting the field with players and coaches wearing face coverings and shields to help stop the spread of the virus.

Pac-12 football teams will have to wait. Last week, conference presidents delayed mandatory team activities for Pac-12 athletes, acknowledging the league would likely delay the start of the fall sports seasons.

Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard, in&nbsp;<a href="https://cyclones.com/news/2020/7/13/athletics-pollard-addresses-cyclone-nation.aspx#.Xwx5YjZIyn0.twitter" target="_blank">a letter to fans posted online</a>, said the school is trying to balance the health and safety of athletes with the drastic financial repercussions of not having a football season.

“If we are unable to play sports this fall, the athletics department would incur approximately $40M in unfunded expenses in the next six months,” Pollard wrote.

The college football season was scheduled to start with a handful of nonconference games — three involving Pac-12 teams — on Aug. 29, before a full slate around Labor Day weekend from Sept. 3-7.

The Patriot League has seven schools that play football: Bucknell, Colgate, Lehigh, Lafayette, Holy Cross and affiliate members Georgetown and Fordham. It doesn’t have a multimillion-dollar revenue stream attached to its football season.

“The specific financial aspect of it didn’t come into the conversations,” Heppel said. “It wasn’t a factor in our decision-making. And if that means it was easier, I don’t know. Because it was still pretty damn hard.”

What the Patriot League does have is one of college football’s most storied rivalries.

Lehigh and Lafayette, located 17 miles apart in eastern Pennsylvania, started playing in 1884, sometimes as many as three times in a season. Only in 1896 was the rivalry not played since it began.

Army and Navy play in college football’s highest tier of Division I and were exempt from the Patriot League’s decision regarding other fall sports. The Patriot League council said the service academies will be allowed to pursue competition in those sports in which they usually compete within the conference, including soccer and volleyball, as the schools’ leaders see fit.

By RALPH D. RUSSO - Associated PressThe Patriot League joined the Ivy League on Monday, punting on football and other fall sports because of the coronavirus pandemic while holding out hope the games can be made up.The Patriot League said its 10 Division I schools will also not compete in men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and field hockey. The conference’s council of presidents said the league will consider playing those seasons in the winter and spring if possible.“Really, really tough decision,” Patriot League Commissioner Jennifer Heppel said. “Nobody’s happy. Happy is a word that’s kind of gone out the window.”The conference is mostly comprised of private schools located in the Northeast that offer limited athletic scholarships. Pennsylvania rivals Lehigh and Lafayette have played 155 times, more than any opponents in college football history.Army and Navy are also Patriot League members, but not in football.Heppel said news about the United States’ inability to control the pandemic coming out of the July 4 weekend heightened concern within the Patriot League about its ability to safely conduct a sports season.“That really spurred a lot of individual conversations of, ’What are you thinking? Where are you? How might we best begin to think about moving forward?” she said. “And that led into more collective conversations last week.”The Patriot League competes in Division I’s second tier of college football (FCS) like the&nbsp;Ivy League, which announced a similar decision last week.&nbsp;Unlike the Ivy League, the Patriot League participates in the FCS playoffs.“Of course you take note,” Heppel said of the Ivy’s decision. “When a decision that’s made like the Ivy made that hadn’t been made before, you want to understand because information is valuable.”Later Monday, the National Junior College Athletic Association announced it was not having a fall season and planned to move football and other sports to the spring.Meanwhile, at the top of college sports, Southeastern Conference athletic directors met in person in Birmingham, Alabama, to discuss how the SEC can have a football season as COVID-19 cases spike throughout much of the South.“It is clear that current circumstances related to COVID-19 must improve and we will continue to closely monitor developments around the virus on a daily basis,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement after the meeting.The meeting had been scheduled for a while but came just days after the&nbsp;Big Ten&nbsp;and&nbsp;Pac-12&nbsp;said they would play conference-only schedules this fall in football and a number of other sports.“We believe that late July will provide the best clarity for making the important decisions ahead of us,” Sankey said.SEC football media days, the unofficial start of the season for many fans, had been scheduled to begin this week, but the pandemic forced all FBS conferences to hold those events online this year. Even some of those — for the SEC and ACC — are now on hold.Some programs are taking steps toward playing and even starting football seasons on time. Monday was the first day the NCAA allowed football players to take part in mandatory team activities with coaches, including unpadded walk-through practices.Florida State posted a video on social media&nbsp;of its team hitting the field with players and coaches wearing face coverings and shields to help stop the spread of the virus.Pac-12 football teams will have to wait. Last week, conference presidents delayed mandatory team activities for Pac-12 athletes, acknowledging the league would likely delay the start of the fall sports seasons.Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard, in&nbsp;<a href="https://cyclones.com/news/2020/7/13/athletics-pollard-addresses-cyclone-nation.aspx#.Xwx5YjZIyn0.twitter" target="_blank">a letter to fans posted online</a>, said the school is trying to balance the health and safety of athletes with the drastic financial repercussions of not having a football season.“If we are unable to play sports this fall, the athletics department would incur approximately $40M in unfunded expenses in the next six months,” Pollard wrote.The college football season was scheduled to start with a handful of nonconference games — three involving Pac-12 teams — on Aug. 29, before a full slate around Labor Day weekend from Sept. 3-7.The Patriot League has seven schools that play football: Bucknell, Colgate, Lehigh, Lafayette, Holy Cross and affiliate members Georgetown and Fordham. It doesn’t have a multimillion-dollar revenue stream attached to its football season.“The specific financial aspect of it didn’t come into the conversations,” Heppel said. “It wasn’t a factor in our decision-making. And if that means it was easier, I don’t know. Because it was still pretty damn hard.”What the Patriot League does have is one of college football’s most storied rivalries.Lehigh and Lafayette, located 17 miles apart in eastern Pennsylvania, started playing in 1884, sometimes as many as three times in a season. Only in 1896 was the rivalry not played since it began.Army and Navy play in college football’s highest tier of Division I and were exempt from the Patriot League’s decision regarding other fall sports. The Patriot League council said the service academies will be allowed to pursue competition in those sports in which they usually compete within the conference, including soccer and volleyball, as the schools’ leaders see fit.

Patriot League punts on fall football as SEC leaders meet

CLEVELAND (AP) — The spotlight for change is shining on the Cleveland Indians.

Now that the NFL’s Washington Redskins have retired their contentious nickname and logo after decades of objection and amid a nationwide movement calling for racial justice, the Indians appear to be the next major sports franchise that might assume a new identity.

Along with the Indians, who recently announced they are in the early stages of evaluating a name change for the first time in 105 years, the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Blackhawks and Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are among those facing backlash along with the potential of sponsors pulling their financial support.

For some, the time has come for widespread changes to sports nicknames, mascots and symbols as the country reckons with its legacy of racism.

“I understand people aren’t willing to change or so quickly, or they’re hoping this moment is going to pass. It’s not,” said activist Frances Danger, who is Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole from Oklahoma. ”And now that we’ve gotten what we needed on the Redskins side, we’re going to start working on the rest of them. We’re not going to let up.”

On Monday, Washington announced it was dropping a nickname that had been in place since 1933 and had grown into an embarrassing scar for the NFL franchise. The team buckled under financial pressure from sponsors including FedEx, the shipping giant and naming rights holder to the teams’s stadium, as well as other groups.

Indians manager Terry Francona acknowledged having “mixed emotions” about the Redskins’ situation.

“I’m glad to see that they’re acting on it,” he said Monday night. “Also, I think that it was probably financially driven. ... You can’t always do things when the timing is right, when it’s convenient. That’s kind of how I feel about this. I hope that our organization will lead as opposed to follow.”

While the debate over the Redskins’ nickname was waged for years, the drastic change came just two weeks after owner Dan Snyder, who once said he would never change the team’s moniker, said the franchise would undergo a “thorough review” before its next move.

Cleveland’s situation is different from Washington’s on several fronts.

First, the Indians are not feeling heat from any corporate sponsors. At least not publicly.

When the Redskins announced their review earlier this month, the Indians released a statement within hours of Washington’s that said, “we are committed to engaging our community and appropriate stakeholders to determine the best path forward with regard to our team name.”

The Indians didn’t promise to change their nickname. But it would be hard to imagine them going through a detailed evaluation and deciding to stick with a nickname that Native American groups have condemned for years as degrading and racist.

Cleveland showed a willingness to rebrand itself when it pulled the highly debated Chief Wahoo logo off its game jerseys and caps. While the red-faced, toothy caricature remains a presence on some team merchandise, its reduced status and removal from the diamond and signage around Progressive Field was applauded as a positive step.

Even if the Indians decide to drop the nickname, there are numerous other layers — trademark contracts, new logos, Major League Baseball’s approval — to work through before the change could take effect.

While the Indians seem open to a new identity, the Braves aren’t budging.

They have no plans to change their nickname, telling season-ticket holders in a letter last week that “we will always be the Atlanta Braves.” However, the team said it will review the team’s ”tomahawk chop” chant — a tradition borrowed in the early 1990s from Florida State’s powerful football program.

The Blackhawks, too, have no plans for change, saying their name honors a Native American leader, Black Hawk of Illinois’ Sac &amp; Fox Nation. The NHL team said it plans to work harder to raise awareness of Black Hawk and “the important contributions of all Native American people.”

“We’re trying to honor the logo and be respectful,” general manager Stan Bowman said. “There’s certainly a fine line between respect and disrespect, and I think we want to do an even better job. I think the most important thing is to be clear that we want to help educate. ... I think we’ve done a good job, but we want to do a better job. And I think we’re committed to that as we go forward.”

Part of Atlanta’s insistence to keep a nickname the franchise brought from Milwaukee in 1966 is due to the the team’s “cultural working relationship” with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina and other tribal leaders it collaborates with regularly.

But as teams look to make changes, Danger and other activists will continue to push them to abandon any connection with Native Americans, who have been portrayed as mascots for generations.

“We’re being paraded around without a say in how we’re seen,” she said. “It’s a less bloody continuation of that, of us being a sideshow. It’s not hard to choose the right side of history, so I hope these teams will take that step with us, side by side, as we all work together to change the world.”

Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona, and AP Sports Writers Charles Odum in Atlanta and Jay Cohen in Chicago contributed to this report.

By TOM WITHERS - Associated PressCLEVELAND (AP) — The spotlight for change is shining on the Cleveland Indians.Now that the NFL’s Washington Redskins have retired their contentious nickname and logo after decades of objection and amid a nationwide movement calling for racial justice, the Indians appear to be the next major sports franchise that might assume a new identity.Along with the Indians, who recently announced they are in the early stages of evaluating a name change for the first time in 105 years, the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Blackhawks and Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are among those facing backlash along with the potential of sponsors pulling their financial support.For some, the time has come for widespread changes to sports nicknames, mascots and symbols as the country reckons with its legacy of racism.“I understand people aren’t willing to change or so quickly, or they’re hoping this moment is going to pass. It’s not,” said activist Frances Danger, who is Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole from Oklahoma. ”And now that we’ve gotten what we needed on the Redskins side, we’re going to start working on the rest of them. We’re not going to let up.”On Monday, Washington announced it was dropping a nickname that had been in place since 1933 and had grown into an embarrassing scar for the NFL franchise. The team buckled under financial pressure from sponsors including FedEx, the shipping giant and naming rights holder to the teams’s stadium, as well as other groups.Indians manager Terry Francona acknowledged having “mixed emotions” about the Redskins’ situation.“I’m glad to see that they’re acting on it,” he said Monday night. “Also, I think that it was probably financially driven. ... You can’t always do things when the timing is right, when it’s convenient. That’s kind of how I feel about this. I hope that our organization will lead as opposed to follow.”While the debate over the Redskins’ nickname was waged for years, the drastic change came just two weeks after owner Dan Snyder, who once said he would never change the team’s moniker, said the franchise would undergo a “thorough review” before its next move.Cleveland’s situation is different from Washington’s on several fronts.First, the Indians are not feeling heat from any corporate sponsors. At least not publicly.When the Redskins announced their review earlier this month, the Indians released a statement within hours of Washington’s that said, “we are committed to engaging our community and appropriate stakeholders to determine the best path forward with regard to our team name.”The Indians didn’t promise to change their nickname. But it would be hard to imagine them going through a detailed evaluation and deciding to stick with a nickname that Native American groups have condemned for years as degrading and racist.Cleveland showed a willingness to rebrand itself when it pulled the highly debated Chief Wahoo logo off its game jerseys and caps. While the red-faced, toothy caricature remains a presence on some team merchandise, its reduced status and removal from the diamond and signage around Progressive Field was applauded as a positive step.Even if the Indians decide to drop the nickname, there are numerous other layers — trademark contracts, new logos, Major League Baseball’s approval — to work through before the change could take effect.While the Indians seem open to a new identity, the Braves aren’t budging.They have no plans to change their nickname, telling season-ticket holders in a letter last week that “we will always be the Atlanta Braves.” However, the team said it will review the team’s ”tomahawk chop” chant — a tradition borrowed in the early 1990s from Florida State’s powerful football program.The Blackhawks, too, have no plans for change, saying their name honors a Native American leader, Black Hawk of Illinois’ Sac &amp; Fox Nation. The NHL team said it plans to work harder to raise awareness of Black Hawk and “the important contributions of all Native American people.”“We’re trying to honor the logo and be respectful,” general manager Stan Bowman said. “There’s certainly a fine line between respect and disrespect, and I think we want to do an even better job. I think the most important thing is to be clear that we want to help educate. ... I think we’ve done a good job, but we want to do a better job. And I think we’re committed to that as we go forward.”Part of Atlanta’s insistence to keep a nickname the franchise brought from Milwaukee in 1966 is due to the the team’s “cultural working relationship” with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina and other tribal leaders it collaborates with regularly.But as teams look to make changes, Danger and other activists will continue to push them to abandon any connection with Native Americans, who have been portrayed as mascots for generations.“We’re being paraded around without a say in how we’re seen,” she said. “It’s a less bloody continuation of that, of us being a sideshow. It’s not hard to choose the right side of history, so I hope these teams will take that step with us, side by side, as we all work together to change the world.”___Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona, and AP Sports Writers Charles Odum in Atlanta and Jay Cohen in Chicago contributed to this report.

Indians, other teams pressured after Redskins drop nickname

The NJCAA Board of Regents on Monday, July 13th decided to push most of the athletic competition to past the new year. JUCO sports will still hold a few competitions that don't involve contact.&nbsp; Below you can read the NJCAA full statement:&nbsp;&nbsp;

Charlotte, NC –&nbsp;Following the recommendations from the NJCAA Presidential Advisory Council and the NJCAA Board of Regents, the NJCAA has announced its adjusted plan of action for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year. Following the Board of Regents' vote on Monday, a majority of competition will be moved to the spring semester.

"Our greatest focus is and always has been providing the best opportunities for our student-athletes," stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President &amp; CEO. "Through a unified effort from our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents, and leadership staff, our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place. As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful."

The most recent plan of action shifts all close-contact fall sports to the spring semester. These sports include football, men's and women's soccer, and court volleyball. The NJCAA cross country championships for all three divisions and half marathon championships will remain as their originally scheduled dates in the fall as well as Division III women's tennis.&nbsp;

All winter sports competition will begin in January with a majority of championship seasons moved from March to April. These sports include men's and women's basketball, wrestling, and swimming and diving. Men's and women's bowling and men's and women's indoor track and field will be held at the beginning of March.

Spring sports competition remains intact with minor adjustments to dates. These sports include baseball, softball, beach volleyball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, track and field, and men's and women's tennis.

Along with the adjustments to competition season and championship dates, the NJCAA has provided information as it relates to scrimmage and practice dates and allowances in the fall.

Championship dates are subject to change based on championship facility availability.

The NJCAA Board of Regents on Monday, July 13th decided to push most of the athletic competition to past the new year. JUCO sports will still hold a few competitions that don't involve contact.&nbsp; Below you can read the NJCAA full statement:&nbsp;&nbsp;Charlotte, NC –&nbsp;Following the recommendations from the NJCAA Presidential Advisory Council and the NJCAA Board of Regents, the NJCAA has announced its adjusted plan of action for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year. Following the Board of Regents' vote on Monday, a majority of competition will be moved to the spring semester."Our greatest focus is and always has been providing the best opportunities for our student-athletes," stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President &amp; CEO. "Through a unified effort from our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents, and leadership staff, our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place. As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful."The most recent plan of action shifts all close-contact fall sports to the spring semester. These sports include football, men's and women's soccer, and court volleyball. The NJCAA cross country championships for all three divisions and half marathon championships will remain as their originally scheduled dates in the fall as well as Division III women's tennis.&nbsp;All winter sports competition will begin in January with a majority of championship seasons moved from March to April. These sports include men's and women's basketball, wrestling, and swimming and diving. Men's and women's bowling and men's and women's indoor track and field will be held at the beginning of March.Spring sports competition remains intact with minor adjustments to dates. These sports include baseball, softball, beach volleyball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, track and field, and men's and women's tennis.Along with the adjustments to competition season and championship dates, the NJCAA has provided information as it relates to scrimmage and practice dates and allowances in the fall.Championship dates are subject to change based on championship facility availability.

NJCAA postpones most athletic competition until Jan 2021

On Monday morning the team made it official.&nbsp;

On Monday morning the team made it official.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><a href="https://t.co/wFvTxdUP9s">pic.twitter.com/wFvTxdUP9s</a>&mdash; Washington Redskins (@Redskins) <a href="https://twitter.com/Redskins/status/1282661063943651328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Redskins no more

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Washington’s NFL team will get rid of the name ‘Redskins’ on Monday, according to multiple reports.

It’s unclear when a new name will be revealed for one of the league’s oldest franchises.

USA Today, ESPN, The Washington Post, Washington Times and Sports Business Journal reported Sunday night that owner Dan Snyder is set to “retire” the name. Yahoo, on Saturday, reported a name change was imminent.

The team launched a ‘thorough review’ of the name July 3 that the NFL supported. That came in the aftermath of&nbsp;prominent sponsors FedEx, Nike, PepsiCo and Bank of America asking the team&nbsp;to change the name.

FedEx is the title sponsor of the team’s stadium in Landover, Maryland, and CEO Frederick Smith is a minority owner. Nike and other companies pulled team gear from their online stores.

Over a dozen Native American leaders and organizations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a6ddd9b0244e6d480eb796edcaa0d387">wrote</a>&nbsp;to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week demanding an immediate end to Washington’s use of the name. In the letter that was obtained by The Associated Press, they said they “expect the NFL to engage in a robust, meaningful reconciliation process with Native American movement leaders, tribes, and organizations to repair the decades of emotional violence and other serious harms this racist team name has caused to Native Peoples.”

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Washington’s NFL team will get rid of the name ‘Redskins’ on Monday, according to multiple reports.It’s unclear when a new name will be revealed for one of the league’s oldest franchises.USA Today, ESPN, The Washington Post, Washington Times and Sports Business Journal reported Sunday night that owner Dan Snyder is set to “retire” the name. Yahoo, on Saturday, reported a name change was imminent.The team launched a ‘thorough review’ of the name July 3 that the NFL supported. That came in the aftermath of&nbsp;prominent sponsors FedEx, Nike, PepsiCo and Bank of America asking the team&nbsp;to change the name.FedEx is the title sponsor of the team’s stadium in Landover, Maryland, and CEO Frederick Smith is a minority owner. Nike and other companies pulled team gear from their online stores.Over a dozen Native American leaders and organizations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a6ddd9b0244e6d480eb796edcaa0d387">wrote</a>&nbsp;to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week demanding an immediate end to Washington’s use of the name. In the letter that was obtained by The Associated Press, they said they “expect the NFL to engage in a robust, meaningful reconciliation process with Native American movement leaders, tribes, and organizations to repair the decades of emotional violence and other serious harms this racist team name has caused to Native Peoples.”

Reports: Washington to shed ‘Redskins’ name Monday

The Big Ten and Pac-12 became the first Power Five leagues to shift to an all-conference fall schedule as college sports faces a dramatically different landscape due to the coronavirus pandemic. In football alone, 73 games were scrapped in two days, from marquee matchups like Oregon-Ohio State to storied rivalries like USC-Notre Dame.

All eyes are now on the Atlantic Coast, Southeastern and Big 12 conferences to see if more games will be shelved in what is already shaping up as a college football season like no other. Hundreds of games have already been canceled, suspended or pushed to the spring semester at the lowest tiers of college football.

Most of the canceled football games in the Pac-12 and Big Ten are less glamorous matchups against small schools counting on big payouts to keep their athletic budgets afloat when they are already facing ugly bottom lines. Saving that money is crucial for the power conference schools -- and a tremendous blow to their opponents.

“It’s significant, to say the least,” Northern Arizona athletic director Mike Marlow said Friday after the Pac-12 announcement. “We’re fortunate in the state of Arizona to have both (Arizona State) and (Arizona) here and we have one or the other scheduled through 2029. That’s a significant part of our budget.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/8d3ce03aabbd5421667846b0f76f4440">The Big Ten</a>&nbsp;announced Thursday it will eliminate all nonconference games in football and several other sports amid rising COVID-19 concerns.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ccacef5b56e9b3dfd39dfee6bf2ff9b6">The Pac-12 followed suit</a>&nbsp;a day later, announcing it was eliminating all nonconference games from its fall schedules for football, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/968faf851a0d42f82780168ec57d4733">The Ivy League</a>&nbsp;has called off all fall sports.

A conference-only schedule also allows schools to cut down on travel and other expenses at a time when athletic departments are facing massive budget constraints.

The cancellation of the NCAA Tournament left the NCAA $375 million short in revenue scheduled to be paid to its member schools and the pandemic has continued to exacerbate financial shortcomings with many schools facing a drop in tuition revenue and lower attendance. Stanford has already announced plans to eliminate 11 of its 36 varsity sports next year to help shore up some of a projected $25 million budget shortfall and at least 171 sports programs at four-year schools have been cut during the pandemic.

The Big Ten’s decision wipes out 33 nonconference football games against non-Power Five programs — nine more against Power Five opponents, including two against Pac-12 foes — with payouts ranging in the six figures to more than $1 million to smaller schools. The Pac-12′s move erases 33 nonconference games in all, including five against Power Five opponents.

Non-Power Five schools will collectively lose at least $110 million — possibly up to $150 million — in revenue from guaranteed payments by Power Five schools in a conference-only model, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.patrickrishe.com/" target="_blank">Patrick Rishe</a>, director of the sports business program at Washington University in St. Louis.

“I expect every conference will at least move towards fewer games. ... and likely a conference-only model,” Rishe said. “If you reduce beyond that, what’s the point of conducting the sport in the fall? You’d be better off giving the spring a try and craft a conference-only spring schedule which can be contested in less time, less travel, etc.”

Northern Arizona has a scheduled payout of $518,000 for its Sept. 3 game at Arizona State, money that slated to be used for the football team’s 2020 travel expenses. Northern Arizona’s overall athletic budget is $21 million and already went through one round of budget reductions to prevent cutting sports.

Fresno State is due to make a combined $1.9 million for buy games against Colorado and Texas A&amp;M this season. New Mexico is due $1.9 million in payouts for road games against Mississippi State and Southern California.

Montana State has a $675,000 payout for a Sept. 12 game at Utah. Hawaii had most of its nonconference schedule wiped out, losing road games against Pac-12 schools Arizona, UCLA and Oregon after Fordham earlier canceled its Sept. 12 game at Aloha Stadium. The Rainbow Warriors only have a game against New Mexico State on Oct. 12 left on their nonconference schedule.

Like Hawaii, BYU now isn’t scheduled to play its first game until October because its first four games, two against Big Ten teams and two more against Pac-12 teams, are now gone.

Some schools could lose more than 5% of their entire athletic budgets if guarantee games are wiped off their schedules.

“Every department has its own philosophy, but I don’t recall in my six years where a MAC team did not play at least a game where they’re bringing home a pretty good check,” Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton said. “And that check supports much more than just football.”

Most guarantee game contracts have so-called act of God clauses, providing some compensation when an uncontrollable event causes a cancellation. The clauses vary by each contract and schools are already sorting through those in case guarantee games — or the entire season — are wiped out.

“I don’t think we know what the financial impact is,” MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher acknowledged in a telephone interview Thursday. “Those schools will have to work through how you disassemble that contract and put it back together. We’ll all act accordingly and we’ll see over the next two to three weeks what the season looks like if we’re able to have a season at all.”

AP Sports Writers John Zenor in Montgomery, Alabama; Cliff Brunt in Oklahoma City; and Larry Lage in Detroit contributed to this report.

By JOHN MARSHALL - Associated PressThe Big Ten and Pac-12 became the first Power Five leagues to shift to an all-conference fall schedule as college sports faces a dramatically different landscape due to the coronavirus pandemic. In football alone, 73 games were scrapped in two days, from marquee matchups like Oregon-Ohio State to storied rivalries like USC-Notre Dame.All eyes are now on the Atlantic Coast, Southeastern and Big 12 conferences to see if more games will be shelved in what is already shaping up as a college football season like no other. Hundreds of games have already been canceled, suspended or pushed to the spring semester at the lowest tiers of college football.Most of the canceled football games in the Pac-12 and Big Ten are less glamorous matchups against small schools counting on big payouts to keep their athletic budgets afloat when they are already facing ugly bottom lines. Saving that money is crucial for the power conference schools -- and a tremendous blow to their opponents.“It’s significant, to say the least,” Northern Arizona athletic director Mike Marlow said Friday after the Pac-12 announcement. “We’re fortunate in the state of Arizona to have both (Arizona State) and (Arizona) here and we have one or the other scheduled through 2029. That’s a significant part of our budget.”<a href="https://apnews.com/8d3ce03aabbd5421667846b0f76f4440">The Big Ten</a>&nbsp;announced Thursday it will eliminate all nonconference games in football and several other sports amid rising COVID-19 concerns.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ccacef5b56e9b3dfd39dfee6bf2ff9b6">The Pac-12 followed suit</a>&nbsp;a day later, announcing it was eliminating all nonconference games from its fall schedules for football, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/968faf851a0d42f82780168ec57d4733">The Ivy League</a>&nbsp;has called off all fall sports.A conference-only schedule also allows schools to cut down on travel and other expenses at a time when athletic departments are facing massive budget constraints.The cancellation of the NCAA Tournament left the NCAA $375 million short in revenue scheduled to be paid to its member schools and the pandemic has continued to exacerbate financial shortcomings with many schools facing a drop in tuition revenue and lower attendance. Stanford has already announced plans to eliminate 11 of its 36 varsity sports next year to help shore up some of a projected $25 million budget shortfall and at least 171 sports programs at four-year schools have been cut during the pandemic.The Big Ten’s decision wipes out 33 nonconference football games against non-Power Five programs — nine more against Power Five opponents, including two against Pac-12 foes — with payouts ranging in the six figures to more than $1 million to smaller schools. The Pac-12′s move erases 33 nonconference games in all, including five against Power Five opponents.Non-Power Five schools will collectively lose at least $110 million — possibly up to $150 million — in revenue from guaranteed payments by Power Five schools in a conference-only model, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.patrickrishe.com/" target="_blank">Patrick Rishe</a>, director of the sports business program at Washington University in St. Louis.“I expect every conference will at least move towards fewer games. ... and likely a conference-only model,” Rishe said. “If you reduce beyond that, what’s the point of conducting the sport in the fall? You’d be better off giving the spring a try and craft a conference-only spring schedule which can be contested in less time, less travel, etc.”Northern Arizona has a scheduled payout of $518,000 for its Sept. 3 game at Arizona State, money that slated to be used for the football team’s 2020 travel expenses. Northern Arizona’s overall athletic budget is $21 million and already went through one round of budget reductions to prevent cutting sports.Fresno State is due to make a combined $1.9 million for buy games against Colorado and Texas A&amp;M this season. New Mexico is due $1.9 million in payouts for road games against Mississippi State and Southern California.Montana State has a $675,000 payout for a Sept. 12 game at Utah. Hawaii had most of its nonconference schedule wiped out, losing road games against Pac-12 schools Arizona, UCLA and Oregon after Fordham earlier canceled its Sept. 12 game at Aloha Stadium. The Rainbow Warriors only have a game against New Mexico State on Oct. 12 left on their nonconference schedule.Like Hawaii, BYU now isn’t scheduled to play its first game until October because its first four games, two against Big Ten teams and two more against Pac-12 teams, are now gone.Some schools could lose more than 5% of their entire athletic budgets if guarantee games are wiped off their schedules.“Every department has its own philosophy, but I don’t recall in my six years where a MAC team did not play at least a game where they’re bringing home a pretty good check,” Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton said. “And that check supports much more than just football.”Most guarantee game contracts have so-called act of God clauses, providing some compensation when an uncontrollable event causes a cancellation. The clauses vary by each contract and schools are already sorting through those in case guarantee games — or the entire season — are wiped out.“I don’t think we know what the financial impact is,” MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher acknowledged in a telephone interview Thursday. “Those schools will have to work through how you disassemble that contract and put it back together. We’ll all act accordingly and we’ll see over the next two to three weeks what the season looks like if we’re able to have a season at all.”___AP Sports Writers John Zenor in Montgomery, Alabama; Cliff Brunt in Oklahoma City; and Larry Lage in Detroit contributed to this report.

Pac-12, Big Ten shelve games and fears grow of ripple effect

Story by Philip Senff - NPCC Sports Information Coordinator

Treasure McCrimon, a 5’5” guard for the North Platte Community College Knights, has accepted an offer to continue her basketball and academic collegiate career at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. McCrimon, of Gary, Ind., started two games for the Knights over the last two seasons while playing in 45 games.

McCrimon averaged 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game during her career. She finished her playing time with NPCC with 24 assists and 16 steals.

McCrimon helped lead the Knights to a 18-45 record during her time at NPCC along with a Region IX and District F championship during the 2018-19 season. She joins NPCC teammate, Dehje Belmore, who will also be attending McMurry University in the fall.

NPCC head women’s coach Jeff Thurman said the team is excited for McCrimon and her next journey at McMurry University.

“Treasure has been a part of our program for two years and has been an amazing student-athlete and teammate,” said Thurman. “She showed tremendous growth in her two years here at NPCC and has put in the work in both the classroom and on the court to accomplish this goal.”

Story by Philip Senff - NPCC Sports Information CoordinatorTreasure McCrimon, a 5’5” guard for the North Platte Community College Knights, has accepted an offer to continue her basketball and academic collegiate career at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. McCrimon, of Gary, Ind., started two games for the Knights over the last two seasons while playing in 45 games.McCrimon averaged 1.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game during her career. She finished her playing time with NPCC with 24 assists and 16 steals.McCrimon helped lead the Knights to a 18-45 record during her time at NPCC along with a Region IX and District F championship during the 2018-19 season. She joins NPCC teammate, Dehje Belmore, who will also be attending McMurry University in the fall.NPCC head women’s coach Jeff Thurman said the team is excited for McCrimon and her next journey at McMurry University.“Treasure has been a part of our program for two years and has been an amazing student-athlete and teammate,” said Thurman. “She showed tremendous growth in her two years here at NPCC and has put in the work in both the classroom and on the court to accomplish this goal.”

NPCC Knight continuing career at McMurry University

The NJCAA late on Thursday came out with an announcement from its Presidential Advisory Committee to move athletic competition to Spring of 2021.&nbsp;

The NJCAA is hoping that the individual Regions take the weekend to discuss the announcement. NJCAA will make another announcement on Monday July 13th on the plan moving forward.&nbsp; The announcement comes amidst other entities in collegiate athletics making significant changes to their seasons. The Ivy league has come out and said they will not play any sports in the Fall of 2020.&nbsp; The Big Ten conference will play an only conference schedule in Fall of 2002.&nbsp;

The NJCAA late on Thursday came out with an announcement from its Presidential Advisory Committee to move athletic competition to Spring of 2021.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In regards to the upcoming academic year, the <a href="https://twitter.com/NJCAA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NJCAA</a> Presidential Advisory Council has recommended that a majority of competition move to the spring semester of 2021. An official plan of action will be determined on Monday, July 13. Statement⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/A8KVE6qej6">pic.twitter.com/A8KVE6qej6</a>&mdash; NJCAA (@NJCAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NJCAA/status/1281332892078092290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The NJCAA is hoping that the individual Regions take the weekend to discuss the announcement. NJCAA will make another announcement on Monday July 13th on the plan moving forward.&nbsp; The announcement comes amidst other entities in collegiate athletics making significant changes to their seasons. The Ivy league has come out and said they will not play any sports in the Fall of 2020.&nbsp; The Big Ten conference will play an only conference schedule in Fall of 2002.&nbsp;

NJCAA Recommends competition move to spring 2021

The Big Ten Conference is limiting fall sports to only conference games.&nbsp; 

The announcement came on Thursday afternoon and means three of Nebraska's football games have been canceled, leaving nine games on the schedule to play.&nbsp; Over the next several weeks I imagine we will hear more about how the conference plans to fill the newly-open weeks by shuffling game dates, or adding conference opponents to those open slots.

Nebraska has already removed games against Central Michigan, Cincinnati and South Dakota State from its official schedule on the team's website. The season opener is against Purdue on September 5, with the next game scheduled against Northwestern October 3.

Other exciting non-con match-ups that will no longer happen this fall as of today due to the announcement: Ohio State at Oregon, Michigan vs. Washington, Wisconsin vs Notre Dame, Michigan State vs. Miami, FL, and Penn State vs. Virginia Tech.

Here is the official statement from the Big Ten:

&nbsp;We are facing uncertain and unprecedented times, and the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, game officials, and others associated with our sports programs and campuses remain our number one priority. To that end, the Big Ten Conference announced today that if the Conference is able to participate in fall sports (men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball) based on medical advice, it will move to Conference-only schedules in those sports. Details for these sports will be released at a later date, while decisions on sports not listed above will continue to be evaluated. By limiting competition to other Big Ten institutions, the Conference will have the greatest flexibility to adjust its own operations throughout the season and make quick decisions in real-time based on the most&nbsp;current evolving medical advice and the fluid nature of the pandemic. This decision was made following&nbsp;many&nbsp;thoughtful conversations over several months between the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors, Directors of Athletics, Conference Office staff, and medical experts including the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee. In addition, the Conference announced that summer athletic activities will continue to be voluntary in all sports currently permitted to engage in such activities. Furthermore, Big Ten student-athletes who choose not to participate in intercollegiate athletics at any time during the summer and/or the 2020-21 academic year due to concerns about COVID-19 will continue to have their scholarship honored by their institution and will remain in good standing with their team.&nbsp; While Big Ten member institutions continue to rely on the most up-to-date medical information to establish the best protocols for voluntary workouts on their campuses, in compliance with local and state regulations, the Conference is working with the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee to finalize Conference-wide protocols. As we continue to focus on how to play this season in a safe and responsible way, based on the best advice of medical experts, we are also prepared not to play in order to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes should the circumstances so dictate.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By: Dave Collins, Sports DirectorThe Big Ten Conference is limiting fall sports to only conference games.&nbsp; The announcement came on Thursday afternoon and means three of Nebraska's football games have been canceled, leaving nine games on the schedule to play.&nbsp; Over the next several weeks I imagine we will hear more about how the conference plans to fill the newly-open weeks by shuffling game dates, or adding conference opponents to those open slots.Nebraska has already removed games against Central Michigan, Cincinnati and South Dakota State from its official schedule on the team's website. The season opener is against Purdue on September 5, with the next game scheduled against Northwestern October 3.Other exciting non-con match-ups that will no longer happen this fall as of today due to the announcement: Ohio State at Oregon, Michigan vs. Washington, Wisconsin vs Notre Dame, Michigan State vs. Miami, FL, and Penn State vs. Virginia Tech.Here is the official statement from the Big Ten:&nbsp;We are facing uncertain and unprecedented times, and the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, game officials, and others associated with our sports programs and campuses remain our number one priority. To that end, the Big Ten Conference announced today that if the Conference is able to participate in fall sports (men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball) based on medical advice, it will move to Conference-only schedules in those sports. Details for these sports will be released at a later date, while decisions on sports not listed above will continue to be evaluated. By limiting competition to other Big Ten institutions, the Conference will have the greatest flexibility to adjust its own operations throughout the season and make quick decisions in real-time based on the most&nbsp;current evolving medical advice and the fluid nature of the pandemic. This decision was made following&nbsp;many&nbsp;thoughtful conversations over several months between the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors, Directors of Athletics, Conference Office staff, and medical experts including the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee. In addition, the Conference announced that summer athletic activities will continue to be voluntary in all sports currently permitted to engage in such activities. Furthermore, Big Ten student-athletes who choose not to participate in intercollegiate athletics at any time during the summer and/or the 2020-21 academic year due to concerns about COVID-19 will continue to have their scholarship honored by their institution and will remain in good standing with their team.&nbsp; While Big Ten member institutions continue to rely on the most up-to-date medical information to establish the best protocols for voluntary workouts on their campuses, in compliance with local and state regulations, the Conference is working with the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee to finalize Conference-wide protocols. As we continue to focus on how to play this season in a safe and responsible way, based on the best advice of medical experts, we are also prepared not to play in order to ensure the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes should the circumstances so dictate.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Three Husker football games canceled as Big Ten limits fall sports to conference-only games

Original story on ESPN <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29435295/source-big-ten-moving-conference-only-model-all-sports-fall">(which you can find here)&nbsp;</a>

The Big Ten decided on Thursday that a conference-only season for all fall sports, including football, is the most likely outcome, a source with knowledge of the discussions told ESPN.

If college football can be played this fall, Big Ten presidents and athletics directors prefer playing a conference-only schedule, which would eliminate some long-distance travel and help ensure that their teams are being tested for coronavirus universally, multiple sources inside the league and around college football told ESPN.

Some Big Ten schools preferred playing only conference foes with one additional non-league game, which would preserve some of its marquee non-Big Ten matchups, but there is overwhelming support for a 10-game conference-only schedule, the sources said.

Big Ten presidents and athletics directors discussed the issues during a conference call earlier this week, and the league's head coaches were given an opportunity to weigh in on Thursday morning.

A decision to play only conference games might be announced as early as this week, the sources said.

An assistant coach at a Big Ten program told ESPN that his head coach instructed him to stop scouting and preparing for nonconference opponents and focus only on Big Ten foes.

The Big Ten's potential decision to play only conference opponents would affect 36 scheduled opponents, including 28 from the FBS and eight from the FCS. Six FBS schools --&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2050/ball-state-cardinals">Ball State</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/189/bowling-green-falcons">Bowling Green</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/252/byu-cougars">BYU</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2117/central-michigan-chippewas">Central Michigan</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/41/uconn-huskies">UConn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2459/northern-illinois-huskies">Northern Illinois</a>&nbsp;-- are scheduled to play two Big Ten opponents this season.

The Big Ten would lose marquee nonconference matchups, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/130/michigan-wolverines">Michigan</a>'s road game at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/264/washington-huskies">Washington</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 5,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/194/ohio-state-buckeyes">Ohio State</a>'s trip to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2483/oregon-ducks">Oregon</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 12,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/127/michigan-state-spartans">Michigan State</a>'s home game against&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2390/miami-hurricanes">Miami</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 26, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/275/wisconsin-badgers">Wisconsin</a>'s contest against&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/87/notre-dame-fighting-irish">Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;at Lambeau Field on Oct. 3.

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg contributed to this story.

Original story on ESPN <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29435295/source-big-ten-moving-conference-only-model-all-sports-fall">(which you can find here)&nbsp;</a>By Heather Dinich and Mark Schlabach The Big Ten decided on Thursday that a conference-only season for all fall sports, including football, is the most likely outcome, a source with knowledge of the discussions told ESPN.If college football can be played this fall, Big Ten presidents and athletics directors prefer playing a conference-only schedule, which would eliminate some long-distance travel and help ensure that their teams are being tested for coronavirus universally, multiple sources inside the league and around college football told ESPN.Some Big Ten schools preferred playing only conference foes with one additional non-league game, which would preserve some of its marquee non-Big Ten matchups, but there is overwhelming support for a 10-game conference-only schedule, the sources said.Big Ten presidents and athletics directors discussed the issues during a conference call earlier this week, and the league's head coaches were given an opportunity to weigh in on Thursday morning.A decision to play only conference games might be announced as early as this week, the sources said.An assistant coach at a Big Ten program told ESPN that his head coach instructed him to stop scouting and preparing for nonconference opponents and focus only on Big Ten foes.The Big Ten's potential decision to play only conference opponents would affect 36 scheduled opponents, including 28 from the FBS and eight from the FCS. Six FBS schools --&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2050/ball-state-cardinals">Ball State</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/189/bowling-green-falcons">Bowling Green</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/252/byu-cougars">BYU</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2117/central-michigan-chippewas">Central Michigan</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/41/uconn-huskies">UConn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2459/northern-illinois-huskies">Northern Illinois</a>&nbsp;-- are scheduled to play two Big Ten opponents this season.The Big Ten would lose marquee nonconference matchups, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/130/michigan-wolverines">Michigan</a>'s road game at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/264/washington-huskies">Washington</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 5,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/194/ohio-state-buckeyes">Ohio State</a>'s trip to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2483/oregon-ducks">Oregon</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 12,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/127/michigan-state-spartans">Michigan State</a>'s home game against&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2390/miami-hurricanes">Miami</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 26, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/275/wisconsin-badgers">Wisconsin</a>'s contest against&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/87/notre-dame-fighting-irish">Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;at Lambeau Field on Oct. 3.ESPN's Adam Rittenberg contributed to this story.

Source: Big Ten likely moving to conference-only model for all sports this fall

North Platte, Neb. – July 8, 2020 – Two local women will be competing in the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in August.

Bailey Brown, North Platte, and Katie Dent Mundorf, Mullen, will be in the breakaway roping, a new event to the North Platte rodeo.

In the breakaway, the cowgirl is on horseback in the box at the south end of the arena. She nods her head when she’s ready, and the calf is released from the chute. The cowgirl ropes the calf, stops her horse, and while the calf runs, the end of the rope, which is attached to the saddle horn, breaks away, signaling the end of the run. Good breakaway runs will be two or three seconds in length.

Brown, who is 22 years old, follows in the footsteps of her dad, Ray Brown, a long-time tie-down roper. She has been around the Buffalo Bill Rodeo since she was a youngster, hanging out in the crow’s nest as her grandma Dorothy Brown worked as a timer. Ray competed at the pro rodeo in North Platte for more than twenty years.

North Platte, Neb. – July 8, 2020 – Two local women will be competing in the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in August.Bailey Brown, North Platte, and Katie Dent Mundorf, Mullen, will be in the breakaway roping, a new event to the North Platte rodeo.In the breakaway, the cowgirl is on horseback in the box at the south end of the arena. She nods her head when she’s ready, and the calf is released from the chute. The cowgirl ropes the calf, stops her horse, and while the calf runs, the end of the rope, which is attached to the saddle horn, breaks away, signaling the end of the run. Good breakaway runs will be two or three seconds in length.Brown, who is 22 years old, follows in the footsteps of her dad, Ray Brown, a long-time tie-down roper. She has been around the Buffalo Bill Rodeo since she was a youngster, hanging out in the crow’s nest as her grandma Dorothy Brown worked as a timer. Ray competed at the pro rodeo in North Platte for more than twenty years.Both women excelled in the breakaway roping in high school rodeo. Mundorf won the Nebraska High School breakaway championship in 2002; Brown won it in 2015-2016.At Hastings College, Mundorf played basketball, forgoing collegiate rodeo. Her thought was “you could rodeo forever but I have four years to see if basketball worked out.” For her, it did; Hastings College won national titles her freshman and senior years.Breakaway roping was added to many rodeos across the nation last year and this year as well.Mundorf said there’s an opportunity for women in pro rodeo to have a chance to make a living beyond the barrel racing. “For some women, this might be what they do. They train horses and rope. There’s the potential for this to be a career.”It’s a job that Brown may consider. She will graduate from Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla.in December with a degree in business. “I considered roping and living the gypsy life for a while,” she said.Mundorf ranches with her husband, Joe, north of Mullen. The couple has two children: a daughter, Abbigail, who is six, and a son, Tru, age four. If the breakaway roping had been part of pro rodeo when she went to college, she might not have played college basketball. “If this had been the climate when I was eighteen, and there was a future for women in rodeo other than the barrels, I don’t know if I’d have chosen basketball,” she said.Breakaway will be one of eight events each night of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo at the Wild West Arena in North Platte. The rodeo runs from August 5-8, starting at 8 pm each night. Tickets are general admission only and are $15 each. They are available at the NebraskaLandDays office, online at&nbsp;<a href="https://ruthnicolaus-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/Redirect?ukey=1qxwLCboEtEmzgnT4NEOroIyu2mNjgEAZJRDKkfXgXgg-239084951&amp;key=YAMMID-40450572&amp;link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.NebrasklandDays.com" target="_blank">www.NebrasklandDays.com</a>, and at the gate. For more information, visit the website or call the office at 308.532.7939.