Oregon is set to host a high-profile game against Ohio State on Sept. 12 at Autzen Stadium GETTY IMAGES
The Univ. of Oregon's first three football games "likely will have to be played without fans if the college football season is able to start on time," according to a front-page piece by Steve Mims of the Eugene REGISTER-GUARD. This comes after Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Thursday said that the "current expectation is that large gatherings will not be allowed in the state until at least October." Brown said, "Large gatherings, including live sporting events with audiences, concerts, festivals and conventions will not be able to return until we have a reliable treatment or prevention like a vaccine." Mims notes Oregon is set to host a "high-profile game" against Ohio State on Sept. 12 at Autzen Stadium in addition to two other home games in September. Oregon State also "has three home football games on its September schedule." Oregon State AD Scott Barnes yesterday said that losing those games "would be significant" (Eugene REGISTER-GUARD, 5/8). OU President Michael Schill last week said that he "doubted that Oregon would have 'a packed stadium watching our Ducks play football.'" In Portland, James Crepea writes contrary to "widespread reports and mischaracterizations of Brown’s ambiguous remarks earlier Thursday, nothing has been decided yet." Crepea: "Not about the size of crowds permitted for games scheduled in roughly four months, nor about the possible delay or cancellations of any college football games" (Portland OREGONIAN, 5/8).
FOOTBALL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER: In Oregon, Jarrid Denney writes one thing Oregon State is "not planning for, though, is a full cancellation" of the '20 football season. Barnes said, "All options are on the table and we are communicating with the governor's office and we will again here in the next week and a half, or so." He added, "The one scenario that we are not working on is not playing football. We are looking at some scenarios, including playing less games, playing some games with fewer fans." Barnes also said that the school is "planning for a variety of budget scenarios as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but that it will not cut any athletics programs to ease the financial burden." Barnes: "We have every potential option on the table except that -- we do not have cutting sports on the table as an option" (Corvallis GAZETTE-TIMES, 5/8). Barnes also said that he "wasn't caught off guard" by Brown saying "no fans early in the season are among scenarios they are modeling." Barnes dismissed "talk that conferences could go rogue and play a football schedule even if other conferences are delayed or can’t play because of state restrictions" (Portland OREGONIAN, 5/8).
