Briefs
PAC officially cancels spring sports season
At its annual spring meeting, which was held as a virtual conference on April 2, the Presidents’ Council of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference officially cancelled the 2020 spring varsity sports season. The PAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Banquet, held annually in May in Wexford, also was cancelled.
“This decision was made with great regret and only after every possible avenue to play a modified schedule had been exhausted,” said Dr. David Finegold, president of Chatham University and 2019-20 PAC Presidents’ Council chair. “In fact, the PAC was one of the last three Division III conferences in the country (out of 44 nationally) to take this final step. Ultimately, our first responsibility is to protect the health and safety of our student-athletes, and we will continue to do whatever is necessary to maintain that protection.”
NCAA Division III has provided a blanket waiver providing all 2020 spring sports varsity athletes with an additional season of eligibility. PAC athletic administrators and coaches will be working with student-athletes impacted regarding these additional eligibility options. The PAC will honor graduating senior spring student-athletes as part of a social media campaign during Division III Week, scheduled for April 13-19.
In addition, the PAC Presidents’ Council began planning for the safe return of varsity athletics to campuses in the fall of 2020, assuming the current public health crisis has abated. The conference will be coordinating with the NCAA Sport Science Institute (SSI) and other national and regional public health organizations, as well as our athletic training staff and other health professionals, to determine best practices for maintaining a safe and healthy environment as teams and student-athletes arrive back on PAC campuses.
Verlander to donate paycheck
Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander says he will donate his weekly paycheck during the coronavirus shutdown to organizations that are helping with relief efforts.
Verlander and wife Kate Upton made the announcement Saturday in an Instagram post. The couple said it would pick an organization each week and highlight its work.
The AL Cy Young Award winner is among a group of major leaguers getting $4,775 a day for 60 days, a total of $286,500.
Verlander’s salary this year is $33 million, which is $177,419 a day for the 186-day season.
The payments were part of a recent agreement between Major League Baseball and the players’ union on how to proceed during the stoppage.
Trump praises sports leagues
The White House says President Donald Trump spoke with commissioners of the country’s sports leagues on Saturday and told them he recognizes “the good work being done by many teams and players” to care for their communities and fans dealing with the new coronavirus.
The virus has decimated the sports world with the NBA and NHL suspending their seasons indefinitely and Major League Baseball postponing the start of its season.
The NCAA basketball tournament was also canceled, as were college spring sports such as baseball and softball, lacrosse and track and field.
The White House says the commissioners thanked Trump for his “national leadership and for his interest in the sports industry.” He called on them to continue efforts to support their fellow Americans during the current challenge.
A wide range of sports league officials participated in the call, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NBA commissioner Adam Silver.