Earlier today, Washington head football coach Jimmy Lake met with local Seattle media via a Zoom webinar to discuss the recent postponement of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic. He spoke about the morale of his players, what he would like to see happen with the season(s) in 2021 and also provided some player personnel updates. Lake was joined by UW Associate Athletic Director for Health & Wellness/Head Football Athletic Trainer, Rob Scheidegger. He discussed what factors went into the decision to postpone and how they are currently keeping student-athletes healthy and safe on Montlake.
Here are things of note that were said…..
Lake said “he is proud of all the guys and how they have handled all the protocols.”@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said, “I want to give a huge shoutout to our medical staff!”@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
“This was the right decision!” Lake said. @DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
“I don’t want our players to be guinea pigs!” Lake said.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
“When the medical experts tell us we can play..believe it..we will be ready to play” Lake said.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said redshirt freshman DL Sama Paama has decided to retire from football for personal reasons.@DubLifeUW
#PurpleReign#DubLife— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said that walk-on long-snapper Luke Lane has earned his degree and is moving on to pursue a medical degree.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Three factors that went into decision according to Rob Scheidegger (UW Associate AD for Health/Wellness)
1) Disease prevalence in the region too high
2) Testing availability
3) Unknown complications @DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
“We are going to put the welfare of our student athletes first!” Scheidegger said.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said, “it was tough” when telling his team that the season was postponed.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
“The team was very disappointed but the medical staff did a good job of explaining why” Lake said.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
“Defensively..our schemes are the same that we have been using the last 7 years” Lake said.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
“It’s hard to judge football when we don’t have our helmets on” Lake said.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
“If that game would have went on September 26th, we would have been ready to go!”@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said, “he believes all three (conferences left) will follow suit in due time.”@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said they are talking about putting eligibilities on pause and increased scholarships if the season isn’t played at all.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said, “we can keep doing things here to make sure our players voices are heard” in regards to social justice.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said, “first and foremost we need to make sure this virus is under control before we can talk about a spring season.”@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said in his opinion that the Spring 2021 season needs to be reduced to 8-games and the start to the Fall 2021 season needs to be pushed back for the health and safety of the players.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said, “2022 and beyond is where we will be affected” in regards to recruiting because they won’t be able to watch those player prospects.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said, “if we get this virus under control then maybe we can get the fans out there to watch us.”
“The motivation is definitely there” with the players Lake said.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said, “No! I don’t believe that is feasible” in regards to possible playing in a ‘bubble’ format.
“I think that misses the mark” Lake said.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
“For going through this, they will be extremely grateful when this is all over” Lake said about his players.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said, “they will be extremely grateful for how we have kept them healthy and safe through this pandemic!” @DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Lake said, “there are a lot of questions when it comes to recruiting.”@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Scheidegger said, “we have utilized the lab (UW) from the start.”
“We test them (players) for antibodies.”
They usually get results back on testing within 24-hours.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
Scheidegger said positive test percentile right now is less than 2% for all student-athletes at UW.@DubLifeUW #PurpleReign#DubLife
— Jeff Wright (@jdub2379) August 14, 2020
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