Hanks new Pac-12 football czar
The Pac-12 Conference said Thursday that it hired veteran NFL and college football executive Merton Hanks to fill the newly created role of senior associate commissioner for football operations, essentially making him the conference’s football czar.
When he starts the job early next month, Hanks will oversee Pac-12 scheduling, officiating, replay command center, operations, the conference championship game and bowl relationships. He also will serve as the primary contact for Pac-12 athletic directors and football coaches, bowl partners and NCAA administrators regarding football issues. — Ben Bolch
Notre Dame said five football players tested positive in two rounds of coronavirus testing this week. The athletic department said the football program decided to test twice this week in light of the university’s decision Tuesday to move to remote learning because of a virus outbreak on campus. A total of 232 tests were done.
Six University of Connecticut football players tested positive for coronavirus, leading the school to suspended team activities. The school canceled its football season this month, becoming the first Bowl Subdivision team to make that decision. But the team still had been practicing on Tuesdays and Thursdays and doing weight training together on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
South Carolina was approved by the state to permit 20,000 fans at football games this fall, about a quarter of capacity at Williams-Brice Stadium . ... West Virginia’s season opener against Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 12. will be held without fans because of the pandemic.
The governing body for ski racing said the traditional North American loop will be skipped this season because of safety concerns with the pandemic.
The women’s World Cup won’t make stops in Killington, Vt., or Lake Louise, Canada.
The men’s side won’t race in Beaver Creek, Colo., or during a separate trip to Lake Louise. Instead, the circuit is scheduled to remain in Europe during that time period beginning in late November.
The Kansas City Chiefs will prohibit the wearing of Native American headdresses, face paint and clothing at Arrowhead Stadium. They also are discussing the future of the tomahawk chop as they address what many consider racist imagery associated with their franchise.
The Galaxy will be without striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernández (torn calf muscle) while LAFC will welcome back its top scorer in Carlos Vela when the teams return to MLS play Saturday in an El Tráfico match at an empty Banc of California Stadium.
Vela, the league’s reigning MVP, rejoins LAFC after skipping the Florida tournament to remain in Southern California with his wife, Saioa, who is the final stages of a difficult pregnancy.