Really? COVID protocols cancel national semi-final game at College Baseball World Series

[underpants]

How this is happening to a team that HAS to be overly aware of precautions is dumbfounding to me.

This has the best details I could find. NC States manager says he will only talk about baseball and this was the players decision to make on vaccines.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2021/06/26/nc-state-no-contest-vanderbilt-reactions-college-world-series/5356431001/

The NCAA announced early Saturday morning the 1 p.m. College World Series game between Vanderbilt and NC State would be ruled a no-contest due to COVID-19 protocols.

The announcement comes after Vanderbilt defeated shorthanded NC State 3-1, who played Friday with nine position players and four pitchers — all the Wolfpack had available.

According to D1Baseball.com, two NC State players, who were not vaccinated, tested positive for COVID-19 this week. Per COVID-19 protocol, the entire roster was tested and four came back positive. These four positive tests were from vaccinated individuals present in the dugout Friday.

On the other side, WFLA political reporter Evan Donovan said NC State's outcome in the College World Series was "tragically avoidable."

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. Here's some more coverage.

https://omaha.com/sports/college/baseball/vanderbilt-advances-to-cws-championship-series-by-default/article_5e476668-d645-11eb-a41f-c73c962c0af5.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1

How NC State's positive tests impact Vanderbilt is not yet known. Texas and Mississippi State will play Saturday for the right to play the Commodores in the series starting Monday.

NCAA protocols printed before the CWS mandated testing for unvaccinated individuals every other day and reserved the right to test vaccinated individuals in the case of high spread within the community. Though clear in the rules, NC State coach Elliott Avent initially appeared baffled by developments Friday in his postgame press conference.

"There was a lot of confusion," Avent said. The players "didn't know what was going on; I didn't know what was going on, so I couldn't really tell them."

NC State had 13 players still available. The team was offered the chance to forfeit the game, Avent said, but players voted to play. Had they won, the Wolfpack would have advanced to its first CWS final, though it's not clear, with Saturday morning's news, that it could have played in that final. Avent declined to discuss whether he was vaccinated or he told his players to do so, saying he didn't want to "indoctrinate" his players with his opinions.

"If you want to talk baseball, we can talk baseball,” he said. “If you want to talk politics or stuff like that, you can go talk to my head of sports medicine, Rob Murphy.

“You're talking about stuff that's personal information. And probably protected by whatever, HIPAA. That's something I don't want to discuss.”

[Blues Heron]

2. this meathead thinks covid is politics

no wonder the players are testing positive - it's being framed as political instead of a health issue

“If you want to talk politics or stuff like that,"

[underpants]

3. "...I don't try to indoctrinate my kids..."

“My job is to teach them baseball, make sure they get an education and keep them on the right track forward,” Avent said. “But I don’t try to indoctrinate my kids with my values or my opinions. Obviously, we talk about a lot of things, but these are young men that can make their own decisions. And that’s what they did.”

In the world now, especially for a leader with tons of resources available to him, you’d think following straightforward processes would be a part of preparation just like stretched out and team meals. Geesh!

[Sur Zobra]

10. A coach is responsible for a team's preparedness

at game time. A coach who lets his/her players ignore medical protocols, or team rules, especially when it results in the chance to play for a national championship, is a coach who should be fired

[underpants]

4. Thanks. I could only post 4 paragraphs

VCU basketball got hit but that was in March. Not sure about when Notre Dame hockey’s thing was but this is June for crying out loud. Shots are as available as beer and cigarettes. You’d think Avent would take this as part of preparation all of high is giving his guys a chance. HIPPA? Bullshit.

[Yavin4]

5. All pro and "amateur" sports leagues should mandate that all players and coaches get vaccinated.

No vaccinations? No participation. Being involved in sports is a privilege, not a right.

[underpants]

9. Close quarters too

There’s no way to really distance on a team. I watched Hard Knocks last year with the Rams and Chargers - the Chargers coach (now fired) said they had two opponents every week the other team and the virus. Whoever managed both the best would win the title.

With college sports the programs run their life in every other way but State appears to have just thrown up their hands. Did Avent put his guys in position to win? That’s the question to me.

[unc70]

6. NCSU had sick players starting Monday or Tuesday

According to reports, a couple of their players were moved away from their teammates on Tuesday. I suspect there is another shoe to drop. Not getting straight answers from Avent.

[Ilsa]

7. So, is Vanderbilt proceeding to the finals? nt

[unc70]

8. Yes.

[unc70]

11. Players apparently have variant Delta

Still feels like there is more going on than we know.

State fans are certain there is a conspiracy against them at the NCAA. They are also calling for Vandy to be tested.

[Nevilledog]

12. Play stupid games.......oops