Michigan pauses all athletic activity for 14 days - Michigan won't compete at Big 10 xc meet next weekend

Wisconsin will win easily.

The thing I don't get about these schools is why is zero transmission amongst healthy adults the obsession. Keep those over 50 away from the kids and let them compete. Hell let a 70 year olf faculty member that is already vaccinated drive the van.

The Stride report says they are not expected to compete. The reality is they will not compete. Take a look at the UMichigan xc schedule. It already says "Did not compete" and links to the university press release.

Here is that press release:

https://mgoblue.com/news/2021/1/23/general-university-of-michigan-athletics-enters-department-wide-activity-pause.aspx

https://twitter.com/letsrundotcom/status/1353384972829274112

It is sad. They appear to be a top 10 program.

Leadership: "follow the science!"

The science: "COVID is not transmitted by participants in outdoor running events."

Leadership: "Umm... Cancel outdoor running events anyway!"

don't get it wrote:

The thing I don't get about these schools is why is zero transmission amongst healthy adults the obsession. Keep those over 50 away from the kids and let them compete. Hell let a 70 year olf faculty member that is already vaccinated drive the van.

What I'm wondering is what is the end game? The variant is going to soon be all over the United States. It's expected to the dominant variant here by March.

So the reality is a 14-day quarantine doesn't really do anything. It just delays the inevitable. Unless you are going to delay this until everyone gets vaccinated, they are going to have a simlar problem in a few weeks.

It seems like the logical outcome of this is a cancellation of all sports at Michigan for the rest of the year. Not sure if they were planning on having in person classes but if they were, those clearly will need to be cancelled as well if they are going to be intellectually consistent.

I think much of this is precipitated by the naive idea that we believe the variant JUST has begun spreading across the US. The fact is we're far behind the rest of the world with regard to sequencing of the virus from positive tests. Ignorance is bliss, right? I believe it's far more likely that this variant has been in areas of the country for some time, we just weren't aware. Now that (at the least it appears University of Michigan) is sequencing I think you'll find far more. It doesn't necessarily mean that it's a new occurrence needing the implementation of extreme measures.

Also note the language in the UM press release: "...the University of Michigan Athletic Department will immediately pause athletic activities in all sports, including games, team and individual training sessions, until further notice and up to 14 days." It doesn't say it's definitely 14 days, but up to, so there leaves the possibility that it could end early. I suspect the reason for that statement is this:

https://twitter.com/ethan_sears/status/1353171434898661381?s=20

Beyond the confirmed variant cases they are presuming 15 other positives from the week are also the variant. This feels like an "out of an abundance of caution" type action. If those 15 cases aren't the new variant, does this change the timetable of the pause? Logic would make one say yes, but given everything to date, who knows.

makes sense wrote:

Leadership: "follow the science!"

The science: "COVID is not transmitted by participants in outdoor running events."

Leadership: "Umm... Cancel outdoor running events anyway!"

Everything is about tradeoffs. People say COVID is about science. It's about tradeoffs.

Considering COVID isn't much of a threat to college age students I'd be all for them continuing with outdoor sports but I totally understand how someone else disagrees. And I really understand how some Provost or VP at a college always defaults to more shutdowns.

Michigannnnn wrote:

https://www.thestridereport.com/post/news-michigan-pauses-athletics-wolverines-not-expected-to-race-at-big-10-xc-championships

This is such a sad scenario for the best team in the Big 10s if not the nation this year. Can’t imagine how the athletes are feeling.

Additonally, this provides huge opportunities for teams hoping to sneak through to nationals on the men’s and women’s side, very interesting to see who makes a move this Saturday.

If this is the decision made by a private organization then we must respect it

rojo wrote:

The Stride report says they are not expected to compete. The reality is they will not compete. Take a look at the UMichigan xc schedule. It already says "Did not compete" and links to the university press release.

Here is that press release:

https://mgoblue.com/news/2021/1/23/general-university-of-michigan-athletics-enters-department-wide-activity-pause.aspxhttps://twitter.com/letsrundotcom/status/1353384972829274112

Rojo I thought you were upset that Fauci didn’t take COVID seriously enough? Now you’re upset that other people are taking it seriously? Help us understand

This was a state wide health department decision, not one made by the University voluntarily. If UM was that worried about the variant they would have shut down when the first athlete tested positive with it on Jan 8th.

Actually that's incorrect. The reporter who stated last night it was an order from the state health department clarified that reporting this morning after receiving the actual memo. Nothing was ordered. A list of recommendations was sent to university administration (not athletic administration) who then clearly decided to implement them.

https://twitter.com/ethan_sears/status/1353386442966372352?s=20

Benevolus wrote:

Actually that's incorrect. The reporter who stated last night it was an order from the state health department clarified that reporting this morning after receiving the actual memo. Nothing was ordered. A list of recommendations was sent to university administration (not athletic administration) who then clearly decided to implement them.

https://twitter.com/ethan_sears/status/1353386442966372352?s=20

Small government, state’s rights. As the Founders intended!

America home of the free land of the brave wrote:

If this is the decision made by a private organization then we must respect it

UMich is a public institution.

So it seems xc teams can’t be selected for NC/AA because you’re required to compete in one meet.

Real question is if they have to shut down for 2 weeks even from practicing? Indoor season just picking up too

If some runners on the team have the variant or are suspected to have the variant, it's honestly for the best. They probably will not be able to perform near their best at the meet and also potentially infect other competitors at the meet. Crappy situation, but it's the reality of the time we are in.

makes sense wrote:

Leadership: "follow the science!"

The science: "COVID is not transmitted by participants in outdoor running events."

Leadership: "Umm... Cancel outdoor running events anyway!"

Out of an abundance of caution, we are never taking any risks ever again and are going to make life isolated and boring.

Dur wrote:

America home of the free land of the brave wrote:

If this is the decision made by a private organization then we must respect it

UMich is a public institution.

Right but they are following the recommendation of small state government. This is a tenet of Conservative principles

America home of the free land of the brave wrote:

Dur wrote:

UMich is a public institution.

Right but they are following the recommendation of small state government. This is a tenet of Conservative principles

And their DECISION is PRIVATE, not up for regulation by big government or CANCEL CULTURE.

Sorry!