WAITING FOR JUNE

Pac-12 suspends spring work

Karl Dorrell’s first spring game with the Buffs probably won’t be in the spring — if it happens at all.

CU can’t hold any organized team activities through May 31 as part of a Pac-12 mandate issued Monday morning in response to the spread of coronavirus.

The Buffs, who did not begin spring football practices, are one of three conference teams — all with new coaches — who had yet to start their spring calendars.

CU’s spring game had been scheduled for April 25 at Folsom Field.

Neither the university nor the Pac-12 had formally cancelled or postponed the game, or spring practice, as of Monday. A CU spokesman said any and all league edicts will be reevaluated May 1.

But Dorrell, who was hired Feb. 23 to replace Mel Tucker as CU’s football coach, admitted in a conference call last week that there’s a possibility spring practice won’t be undertaken, or resumed, at all — and that even the regular season could be affected by ever-increasing extensions of social distancing orders.

The Pac-12 left all options open, saying that it will make “periodic reevaluations over the coming weeks should circumstances warrant a change in policy.”

During the next eight weeks, the league said, CU would be allowed, per a league release, to have the following:

• “Virtual group activities, including film study, are permitted to two hours per week for football and four hours per week for all other sports. We are appealing to the NCAA to increase the two-hour football limit in the near future.”

• “Recommend written, self-directed workout plans, and taped demonstration videos on workout plans (from coaches), in order to demonstrate proper form and technique.”

Additionally, the Pac-12 said “virtual or online supervised voluntary workouts and skill instruction are not permitted, regardless of location.”

Boulder County is under a stay-at-home order that runs through April 10, and the university is having students take classes remotely.

CU athletic director Rick George has said that fueling stations for athletes will remain available but that workout facilities such as weight rooms are to remain locked down.