B2 Wednesday, December 2, 2020 — DAILY REPUBLIC
Sports
CIF: Coaches, ADs disappointed by delay From Page B1 not a surprise considering the current Covid status,” said Tracy Cordes, Rodriguez athletic director and softball coach. “The postponement will be very disappointing to our athletes. The students need something to look forward to. I talk to our studentathletes often and I am doing my best to keep their spirits up. Our fingers are crossed that things get better soon. We do have several teams that are conditioning and I think that has helped our student-athletes’ mental and physical well-being. Our coaches are working hard, following all safety protocol and I know that the student’s safety is of their utmost importance. I think that we all need to work hard towards being safe and hope that our county Covid numbers fall and keep falling if we are to play sports anytime soon.” Fairfield football coach Merwin Matsukado said the move was under-
standable and that he wasn’t surprised. “We also have to remember that education and training is a big part of moving forward both safely and effectively.” M at t hew Bidou, Vanden athletic director, sees the move by the CIF as a positive step. “I like the announcement,” Bidou said. “I believe because of the announcement we have a real good chance at getting Season 1 in without pushing Season 2 backwards or Season 1 overlapping Season 2.” State and regional championship were canceled in order to keep the hoped-for season from being shortened as little as possible. “( T ) o pr ov ide the 10 CIF Sections, our 1,605 member schools, and more than 800,000 student-athletes the best opportunity to compete in Season 1 Sports, once allowed by the CDPH and local county offices of public health, the
CIF State Office is removing all Regional and State Championship events from the Season 1 Sports calendar,” the CIF said in the release. “By canceling Regional and State Championship events, more student-athletes will have the opportunity to participate in a longer season, rather than a truncated season with Regional and State postseason play for a limited number of schools.” Armijo cross country and track and field coach Matthew Pence has sent athletes to CIF State championships in both sports and feels it’s “very disappointing” to see the cancellation of the former in early 2021. “You have a lot of seniors this year who are missing out on being celebrated and getting wonderful memories of the event,” Pence said. “While it is entirely understandable why the meet has been canceled, you have to feel sorry for all of the seniors who not only
had their junior year of sports thrown into chaos and canceled but are now missing out on these experiences as well. Even just the hope of qualifying for the state meet can be the motivation an athlete needs to push themselves to new heights and that was just taken away.” The release closed on a positive note with CIF expressing confidence that the pause will give leagues and sections time to make necessary changes. “The CIF is confident this decision is a necessary and reasonable action for our member schools, student-athletes, and school communities in light of the current statewide crisis,” said the CIF in the release. “This revision to the CIF State 2020-21 Season 1 Sports calendar offers our Sections and Leagues the flexibility and needed time to plan for the return to practice and competition once updated guidance is provided by the CDPH.”
49ers: Had little time to make decision From Page B1 “I’m just telling the guys and our team: ‘Just look at it one week at a time,’” Shanahan said. “We’ve traveled as a team for a week before. . . . Hopefully, we can get down there for a week and kind of figure it out. What we can do. What we can’t do. What the situation is. And then we’ll spend the next two weeks trying to adjust and make it as good as we can.” The 49ers explored practice locales outside Santa Clara County in and around the Bay Area. However, they decided on Glendale partly because they had little time to decide after the county’s directives were announced Satur-
day afternoon. In the spring, when Santa Clara County was under a stay-athome order, the 49ers and NFL discussed contingency plans that included the team using the Cardinals’ facility. Shanahan acknowledged there remain unknowns, some of which might not be resolved soon. It’s conceivable, for example, that the 49ers won’t return to Santa Clara until 2021 if the county’s directives are extended. They are scheduled to play their final regular-season home game against Seattle on Jan. 3 at Levi’s Stadium. Given the uncertainty, Shanahan gave the 49ers one of the few guarantees he could provide: They
will be with their families on Christmas, which will be the day before they play the Cardinals in Glendale. Shanahan noted he didn’t know if they would be the Bay Area on Christmas morning, or if their families will be in Arizona. “I don’t know what that deal is, but I know our organization – they’ll do whatever they can to figure out whether we’re here with our families that week or whether we have to get all of them to us,” Shanahan said. “And go through whatever we have to do to do that. “I know that will be worth it, and I know (CEO) Jed (York) will help us out with that. That helps us a little bit. But after that, I’m not trying to make any plans because as you’ve
got to do with everything, you’ve got to wait to see the (protocols) and then we’ll figure it out.” Of course, Shanahan’s primary focus isn’t the upcoming holiday, but the 49ers’ first “home” game in Arizona on Monday against the Bills. The 49ers (5-6) remain in playoff contention with five regular-season games left. How they handle their opponents, along with their unique circumstances, will determine their postseason fate. “We need each other through this and it’s going to be about five more weeks,” Shanahan said. “And, hopefully, if we do it right, we can make it longer.”
W’s: Concerned about training camp From Page B1 can start group practices Monday in advance of their Dec. 12 preseason opener against Denver. Asked if there’s a chance Golden State will need to push back training camp again, Myers said, “At this point in time, all I do know is we’re set to start tomorrow in the individual manner that I discussed, then Monday ramp it up. Beyond that, I can’t promise – none of you can – anything.” If nothing else, Tuesday’s news about the Warriors’ two positive tests reinforced just how precarious it can be to attempt a season during a pandemic. The NBA has tried to set up a system that will ensure the games still happen if a team experiences an outbreak. But as the MLB, NFL and college athletics have shown, even exhaustive plans can’t prevent snafus. For examples, the Warriors need only to look at their Bay Area counterparts. The A’s and Giants had to postpone a combined six games this
past season because of the coronavirus. Cal had football games against Washington and Arizona State canceled, and the Pac-12 called off Stanford’s football game against Washington State. On Monday, just two days after the Santa Clara County Public Health Department banned contact sports for at least three weeks and issued a 14-day quarantine for those traveling into the area from 150 miles away, the 49ers announced they will relocate to Glendale, Ariz., where they’ll play their next two home games. Given that California moved San Francisco County to the most restrictive tier – purple – in its coronavirus economic blueprint Saturday, the Warriors soon might have to make similar accommodations. Golden State remains in contact with San Francisco County public health officials and will have contingency plans ready if necessary. Sacramento, which will host the Warriors for preseason games Dec. 15 and 17, is
one possible relocation site. The regular season begins Dec. 22. Golden State majority owner Joe Lacob has been at the forefront of the NBA’s discussions about how to navigate the pandemic, and his research team shared valuable information with Commissioner Adam Silver and others about PCR testing – now the league’s preferred rapid coronavirus test. But given that coronavirus numbers are spiking in San Francisco, the city’s public health officials are unlikely to approve Lacob’s plan to bring back fans to Chase Center anytime soon. The more pressing concern for the Warriors is whether they can even have an adequate training camp. Though Klay Thompson’s season-ending torn right Achilles tendon likely quashed Golden State’s title hopes, its recent trade for Kelly Oubre Jr. gave it a chance to at least contend for homecourt advantage in the playoffs. To be a serious threat in a loaded Western Conference, the
Warriors must acclimate Stephen Curry – limited to five games last season because of injuries – to a new-look supporting cast, significantly improve their defense and adopt a faster playing style. But as Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has reminded his team again and again in recent months, every franchise is dealing with unprecedented unknowns during the pandemic. Washington head coach Scott Brooks said Tuesday that his team has had one player test positive, and Orlando head coach Steve Clifford said center Mo Bamba – who tested positive several months ago – is still “a ways away” from being ready to play again. “I’m confident that the league is going to do everything in their power to do things the right way and to protect us, protect the players and the staffs,” Kerr said. “Then, who the hell knows? I mean, it’s 2020. “I think we just have to go into it with an open mind, and do our best and see what happens.”
Stanford: May play at WSU on Dec. 19 From Page B1 student-athletes,” the conference said in a statement. Stanford, which canceled its scheduled media availability with head coach David Shaw and selected players Tuesday, said: “Additional updates will be provided as they become available.” Shaw is now expected Wednesday to make the program’s first public comments since the new
health orders. On Monday, Santa Clara County director Jeff Smith said he expects the three-week ban on contact sports to be extended. “Historically, sportsmanship was about building a team and protecting that team,” he said in a news conference. “Coaches, managers and owners used to want to protect their players from damage. Those values
seem to have been delayed during the Covid pandemic. If leaders want to protect their teams and communities, they shouldn’t play anywhere until it’s safe. You could imagine a resurgence of team building when the teams spend their time building a community Covid relief fund rather than trying to endanger the community more. “ The Pac-12 plans to play its final regular season
games Dec. 19, although no matchups have been announced. If the conference allows Stanford and Washington State to catch up with their canceled game from earlier this season, a move would shorten the trip for Stanford. In October, the Cardinal rode buses less than five miles to Woodside High School in San Mateo County to avoid Santa See Stanford, Page B10
CALENDAR Wednesday’s TV sports Basketball College men •Missouri vs. Boston College, ESPN2, 9:30 a.m. •Indiana vs. Stanford, ESPN, 10:30 a.m. •Army vs. Florida, ESPN2, 11:30 a.m. •Texas vs. North Carolina, ESPN, 1 p.m. •Troy vs. Wake Forest, ACC, 1 p.m. •St. John’s vs. BYU, ESPN2, 2 p.m. •VCU vs. Penn State, FS1, 2 p.m. •Morehead State vs. Ohio State, BIG TEN, 2 p.m. •Florida vs. Oklahoma, ESPN2, 3 p.m. •South Carolina vs. Clemson, ACC, 3 p.m. •Ball State vs. Michigan, BIG TEN, 4 p.m. •Tarleton State vs. Texas A&M, SEC, 4 p.m. •West Virginia vs. Gonzaga, ESPN, 4 p.m. •Maui Invitational, fifth-place game, ESPN2, 4 p.m. •Seton Hall vs. Rhode Island, CBSSN, 4 p.m. •Tennessee Tech vs. Xavier, FS1, 4 p.m. •North Florida vs. Florida State, ACC, 5 p.m. •Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Northwestern, BIG TEN, 6 p.m. •Missouri at Oregon, FS1, 6 p.m. •Texas-Arlington vs. Arkansas, SEC, 6 p.m. •Maui Invitational, seventh-place game, ESPN2, 6:30 p.m. •Oregon State vs. Washington State, PAC12, 7 p.m. •Illinois vs. Baylor, ESPN, 7 p.m. Football NFL •Baltimore at Pittsburgh, Ch. 3, 12:40 p.m. Golf •European Tour, Golf in Dubai Championship, first round, GOLF, midnight •LPGA Tour, Volunteers of America Classic Charity Challenge, GOLF, 1 p.m. •European Tour, Golf in Dubai Championship, early second round, GOLF, 11 p.m. Hockey College •Michigan vs. Penn State, ESPNU, 3 p.m. Soccer •Copa Libertadores, Esportiva Palmeiras vs. Delfin, BEIN, 2:05 p.m. •Copa Libertadores, Internacional vs. Boca, BEIN, 4:20 p.m. •CONCACAF League, quarterfinals, Alajuelense vs. Real Esteli, FS2, 5 p.m. •MLS Playoffs, Western Conference semifinals, Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United, •CONCACAF League, quarterfinals, Olimpia vs. Motagua, FS2, 7 p.m.
Wednesday’s local sports •No events scheduled
Thursday’s TV sports Basketball College men •UMass-Lowell vs. North Carolina St., ESPNU, 1:30 p.m. •Washington vs. Utah, PAC12, 3 p.m. •Connecticut vs. USC, ESPN, 4 p.m. •VMI vs. Virginia Tech, ACC, 5 p.m. •Western Illinois vs. Iowa, BIG TEN, 5 p.m. •Seattle vs. UCLA, PAC12, 5 p.m. •Florida vs. Boston College, ESPN2, 6:30 p.m. •Arizona State at California, PAC12, P12BA, 7 p.m. College women •Michigan vs. Notre Dame, ACC, 3 p.m. •Towson vs. Maryland, BIG TEN, 3 p.m. •Louisiana-Monroe vs. Arkansas, SEC, 3:30 p.m. •North Carolina St. vs. South Carolina, ESPN2, 4 p.m. •Kansas vs. Ole Miss, SEC, 5:30 p.m. Football College •Louisiana Tech at North Texas, CBSSN, 3 p.m. •Air Force at Utah State, CBSSN, 6:30 p.m. Golf •European Tour, South African Open, first round, GOLF, 1 a.m. •European Tour, Golf in Dubai Championship, second round, GOLF, 2 a.m. •European Tour, South African Open, first round, GOLF, 5 a.m. •PGA Tour, Mayakoba Classic, first round, GOLF, 11 a.m. •LPGA, Volunteers of America Classic, first round, GOLF, noon •European Tour, Golf in Dubai Championship, third round, GOLF,10:30 p.m. •European Tour, South African Open, second round, GOLF, 3 a.m. (Friday) Motorsports •Drone Racing League, NBCSN, 5 p.m. •Formula 1, Sakhir Grand Prix, Practice 1, ESPNEWS, 5:25 a.m. •Formula 1, Sakhir Grand Prix, Practice 2, ESPN2, 9:25 a.m. (Friday) Soccer •Copa Sudamericana, Union La Calera vs. Junior de Barranqujilla, BEIN, 2:05 p.m. •Copa Sudamericana, Vasco da Gama vs. Defensa y Justicia, BEIN, 6:30 p.m. •Super Lig, Besiktas vs. Kasimpasa S.K, BEIN, 8:25 a.m. (Friday)
Thursday’s local sports •No events scheduled
Like us!
Check out photos, stories, community events on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/dailyrepublic
