Published: June 1, 2020 By

Dani Jones

Dani Jones, Track & Field National Athlete of the Year

Buffs Bits

In March, Dani Jones (Psych, SLHSci鈥20) was named the Track & Field National Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. 鈥 Mikaela Tommy (Env Des鈥20) was recognized as the National Women鈥檚 Alpine Skier of the Year by the United States Collegiate Ski Coaches Association in April, capping a season in which she had nine podium appearances in 10 finished races. 鈥 Men鈥檚 basketball鈥檚 Tyler Bey (Ethn鈥21) was honored as the 2019鈥20 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. McKinley Wright (Ethn鈥21) joined Bey on the conference鈥檚 five-member All-Defensive squad. As of press time, both were testing the NBA draft waters. 鈥 CU 麻豆影院 athletic director Rick George was named to the College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee in January. 鈥 Laviska Shenault Jr. (EthnSt鈥21), Davion Taylor (Psych鈥20) and Arlington Hambright (MEdu ex鈥22) were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft in April. Steven Montez (厂迟颁辞尘尘鈥20), Tony Brown (Soc鈥20) and Delrick Abrams Jr. (EthnSt鈥20) signed as NFL free agents.


NCAA Cancels Spring Sports

On March 12, 2020, the NCAA canceled the Division I men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball tournaments and the remaining winter and upcoming spring championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the Pac-12 suspended all organized team activities through at least May 31. On March 30, the NCAA voted to allow schools to provide spring-sport student-athletes an additional season of competition and an extension of their five-year period of eligibility. Financial aid rules have been adjusted to help schools support incoming student-athletes and those now returning for an additional season. In April, CU athletic director Rick George told Sports Illustrated, 鈥淚f seniors decide to come back and coaches are in agreement, squad limits will not be counted in their financial aid limitations. So, we can provide scholarships or financial aid to student-athletes above the financial aid limits currently.鈥 Winter athletes were not granted an additional year of eligibility.


Coach Talk

We're just going to maximize the chance we get with our players...We're not going to use any excuses."

鈥 First-year head football coach Karl Dorrell. The Buffs were one of three Pac-12 schools yet to begin spring practices when the conference shut down all team activities due to COVID-19.

Photo by Patrick Campbell听