USC football players believe the science and technology have turned in favor of playing GETTY IMAGES
USC football players "made a public plea" yesterday, asking California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a letter to "loosen restrictions surrounding college sports and 'please let us play,'" according to Ryan Kartje of the L.A. TIMES. The letter "praised Newsom for his leadership in previously listening to athletes' voices and even offered support for the Pac-12's initial, science-based decision to postpone the football season amid the COVID-19 pandemic." But in light of a recent testing breakthrough and a conference-wide partnership that allows for rapid, daily antigen testing of the virus, the players wrote, "It now appears that the science and technology have turned in favor of playing." Kartje notes college football teams in California currently can "barely practice, let alone actually kick off a season." L.A.'s college teams "remain unable to gather as a full team, practice indoors, or practice anywhere in groups larger than 12." Even if restrictions are "loosened soon, it's still unclear whether a fall season would be tenable" (L.A. TIMES, 9/16). In California, Adam Grosbard writes although the Pac-12 delayed its fall football season, other schools in the conference "have at least been able to practice" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/16).
HOLDING ALL THE CARDS: In Portland, John Canzano writes Oregon Gov. Kate Brown "has left things foggy" in regard to lifting state restrictions. She is the "ultimate gatekeeper" on when the state's major universities "will be allowed to hold regular full sports practices." The college athletes are "currently only able to participate in individual workouts." Amid that, some of the coaches in football and basketball "decided to send players home." The Univ. of Oregon and Oregon State football programs are "in a holding pattern." The Pac-12 "hasn't indicated a timeline to return to play, although anyone with access to a calendar thinks that November isn't off the table." But nobody "really knows what Gov. Brown is looking for or wants to hear before she'll lift our state restrictions" (Portland OREGONIAN, 9/16).
