Spring football season 2021

[Yote 53]

Game against Western Illinois on 2/19 has already been postponed to 4/17 due to COVID issues at WIU.

The April date is a Saturday and the weather should be better (even though we do play in a Dome).

Not a good start to the Spring season.

[leatherneckcountry]

Well that sucks.

[elcoyote]

I'm sorry, but the cynic in me isn't buying this at all. This far ahead? Western doesn't have an indoor practice facility and with the brutal cold spell that's being experienced at the present it's hard to imagine they're getting much done on the practice field and didn't think they'd be prepared for the game. I get it, in fact even before today's announcement, this had been a discussion topic in our morning coffee group where we have all the answers and solve all the world's problems. Montana and Montana State opted out of the entire Big Sky season because of their lack of an indoor facility.

[Yotes]

I believe that was the lone open slot to reschedule a game this season. So now any other game that can't be played as scheduled would likely be a cancelation for us.

[Yotes]

Feb 10, 2021 10:42:18 GMT -6 elcoyote said:

I'm sorry, but the cynic in me isn't buying this at all. This far ahead? Western doesn't have an indoor practice facility and with the brutal cold spell that's being experienced at the present it's hard to imagine they're getting much done on the practice field and didn't think they'd be prepared for the game. I get it, in fact even before today's announcement, this had been a discussion topic in our morning coffee group where we have all the answers and solve all the world's problems. Montana and Montana State opted out of the entire Big Sky season because of their lack of an indoor facility.

They surely spend plenty of time indoors together in meetings, the weight room, or through...extracirruculars. 9 days in advance is a reasonable timeframe to recognize things won't be okay by kickoff.

I'm giving the benefit of the doubt here because if they are trying to opt out this would be a shameful way to do it.

[elcoyote]

Feb 10, 2021 19:44:04 GMT -6 Yotes said:

Feb 10, 2021 10:42:18 GMT -6 elcoyote said:

I'm sorry, but the cynic in me isn't buying this at all. This far ahead? Western doesn't have an indoor practice facility and with the brutal cold spell that's being experienced at the present it's hard to imagine they're getting much done on the practice field and didn't think they'd be prepared for the game. I get it, in fact even before today's announcement, this had been a discussion topic in our morning coffee group where we have all the answers and solve all the world's problems. Montana and Montana State opted out of the entire Big Sky season because of their lack of an indoor facility.

They surely spend plenty of time indoors together in meetings, the weight room, or through...extracirruculars. 9 days in advance is a reasonable timeframe to recognize things won't be okay by kickoff.

I'm giving the benefit of the doubt here because if they are trying to opt out this would be a shameful way to do it.

What I'm saying is that they won't be able to practice and be physically prepared for the game. It would be ridiculous for them to subject their players to subzero conditions and I doubt anything would be accomplished. That's even what they're saying on their message board. I feel for them and especially the players as I sure wouldn't want to be subject to that although I have no idea if they've been practicing outside this week or not. I couldn't imagine going into the first game unprepared physically. Remember what Coach Lee said about being unprepared at the beginning of the season because of the lack of practice?  Football would obviously be way worse and more dangerous because of the physicality of the game leading to a greater chance for injury. I'm still not convinced. Nine days would be reasonable if you're saying you won't safely be prepared, but it's a long way out for a Covid postponement. Let's see if the basketball, volleyball and track teams compete this weekend. 

[yoteforever]

Everything you say is plausible but I think the underlying reason for postponement was laws/rules in the state of illinois. They do not go by CDC guidelines on testing but I’ve been told have a far more restrictive rules they go by. 14 days out from either a positive test OR tracing. All three illinois schools are going to be walking a tight rope. I’ll be surprised if the game in Normal now goes off.

Think about the complete $hit show schedule now we face. We have to play outside in central Illinois for our first game, then 5 days later take the 6-7 hour bus ride to Grand Forks. We have a freakin Dome yet not play our first game till March. Zero sense. I hope that our players take it as a badge of courage to overcome it. Start 2-0 in some pretty adverse conditions and position themselves to contend. We by far have the toughest schedule in terms of days between games and a bye week. We don’t get one. Every other school does.

[Yote 53]

This season is going to be a mess and is an * season.

[elcoyote]

Feb 11, 2021 7:01:16 GMT -6 yoteforever said:

Everything you say is plausible but I think the underlying reason for postponement was laws/rules in the state of illinois. They do not go by CDC guidelines on testing but I’ve been told have a far more restrictive rules they go by. 14 days out from either a positive test OR tracing. All three illinois schools are going to be walking a tight rope. I’ll be surprised if the game in Normal now goes off.

Think about the complete $hit show schedule now we face. We have to play outside in central Illinois for our first game, then 5 days later take the 6-7 hour bus ride to Grand Forks. We have a freakin Dome yet not play our first game till March. Zero sense. I hope that our players take it as a badge of courage to overcome it. Start 2-0 in some pretty adverse conditions and position themselves to contend. We by far have the toughest schedule in terms of days between games and a bye week. We don’t get one. Every other school does.

Since this season is so fluid if the conference had any brains at all they'd reschedule the UND game to that Saturday to protect the health and safety of our players. I think it was originally scheduled on Thursday so as not to conflict with the Summit League basketball tourney, but since they're not allowing fans to attend that's now a moot point. I'm not holding my breath. 

You're probably right on the state of Illinois having different rules dealing with Covid.

[easmus]

You must also remember that the Alerus Center is not owned by UND, so their facility may not be available to reschedule the football game.

[elcoyote]

Then play it in Vermillion. UND opens with three home games. I know, I know...4/4 scheduling. Just getting tired of all the conference schedules ending up being the worst possible scenarios for USD.

[GoYotes]

USD & NDSU, each who obviously play in a Dome, each only had one of their first 3 regularly scheduled games at home for this spring season. Seems like poor planning by the MVFC.

[coyotecrazie5]

Feb 12, 2021 8:01:49 GMT -6 GoYotes said:

USD & NDSU, each who obviously play in a Dome, each only had one of their first 3 regularly scheduled games at home for this spring season. Seems like poor planning by the MVFC.

Must have collaborated with the Summit League schedulers

[teamsd]

Apparently QB Devon Moore (Jr., Transfer - Iowa State) is no longer listed on the GoYotes.com roster, per Twitter.

[Yotes]

Feb 18, 2021 10:26:23 GMT -6 teamsd said:

Apparently QB Devon Moore (Jr., Transfer - Iowa State) is no longer listed on the GoYotes.com roster, per Twitter.

Another example of why excitement over transfers (or recruits in general) is best reserved until you see them on the field. It's a long road to get out there.