What now Pac 12?

From the Mercury News.

Following the Big Ten’s announcement on Wednesday morning, commissioner Larry Scott issued the following statement to the Hotline :

“At this time, our universities in California and Oregon do not have approval from state or local public health officials to start contact practice. We are hopeful that our new daily testing capability can help satisfy public health official approvals in California and Oregon to begin contact practice and competition. We are equally closely monitoring the devastating fires and air quality in our region at this time. We are eager for our student-athletes to have the opportunity to play this season, as soon as it can be done safely and in accordance with public health authority approvals.”

Combine the wildfires and the state-level restrictions, and the Pac-12 currently faces challenges far greater than the other Power Fives — challenges that will take time to resolve.

We don’t expect the presidents to vote on a return-to-play plan until later this month, at the earliest.

The rapid-response antigen tests made by Quidel are due on the campuses by Sept. 30 and, according to computer modeling, will reduce infectiousness by 100 percent.

But even with the antigen tests, the California and Oregon schools — with help from the conference office — must convince state authorities to lift restrictions currently preventing the six teams from practicing.

The Pac-12 must do everything possible, apply maximum pressure, to sway California and Oregon officials.

Click here for link at https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/09/16/with-the-big-ten-rest