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The University of Utah Athletics
A Note from Coach Hogue
3/26/2020 2:51 PM | Softball
Well, I have put this newsletter off long enough ... so here she goes...
I am assuming all of you have heard the news by now ... about two weeks ago, our 2020 season abruptly ended. While we were in Seattle, the Pac-12 delivered the news to us that we were being POSTPONED for a couple weeks and that we should head home. As I tried to wrap my head around the news of the postponement, the NCAA sent out a tweet that they were CANCELLING the entire season (without even giving our conference a heads-up). My stomach dropped and all I could think about was our three seniors, BreOnna Castaneda, Claire Feldman and Alyssa Barrera.
I immediately pulled them aside in the breakfast room and had one of the most difficult conversations I have ever had. The year was over and probably had played their last game in a UTAH uniform. There were no words from them ... just tears.
After talking privately with our seniors, I gathered the rest of the team together in that dark and gloomy conference room at the Courtyard Marriott in Bellevue, Washington. Not long after we started sharing the devastating news, I realized that all of us would remember that room forever. There was so much disbelief. So much sadness and anger. So much confusion and so many questions from everyone. The emotions were deep and that room will be forever seared into my mind.
Obviously, our number one job after delivering the news, was to get home. We were able to check out and fly back to Utah that evening.
A lot has happened since that day. Even though we were disappointed in the abrupt cancellation of the season (instead of the original plan to postpone things), it seemed inevitable. Classes moved online and we have recently encouraged our student-athletes to move off campus and to their permanent home addresses.
Daily life, compared to two weeks ago, is extremely different for this group (as is true for most of the world). Our main focus right now as an athletic department is the safety and well-being of our student-athletes. We are tracking where they are and how their physical and mental health is coping during this time. We have been using Zoom and other platforms to stay in touch and to keep the support levels high.
After the safety measures were put in place, academics was the next priority. We have tutors and mentors still running strong for the team. We were told that for eligibility purposes, we cannot assume there will be any changes to how they qualify for competition, so getting good grades is essential. The academic support services have ramped everything up and worked around the clock for the teams.
As far as the plan moving forward, we are waiting to hear the biggest announcement from the NCAA regarding the chance for our spring sport student-athletes to get the year back. The vote from the Pac-12 is on Friday, and from what I have been told, we should know what the NCAA is planning to do, sometime on Monday.
I believe the core mission for all of us who work in athletics is to push for opportunities for our student-athletes to play. This is why we are fighting so hard for them. I've never appreciated our University President Ruth Watkins and our athletic director Mark Harlan more, than I do at this time. The work that is going on to support these student-athletes is at all all-time high. Our athletic department, our conference, our Pac-12 softball head coaches, you name it, are getting on calls to band together to do whatever it takes to support the student-athletes.
I amm crossing my fingers for our seniors to get the opportunity to have the season back. All of them, across each spring sport and in each class. Even though that decision will bring challenges of its own, I still hope they choose this so the student-athletes can get a chance to play.
We will know soon enough.
In the meantime, check out our website to enjoy a look back at some great Utah Softball moments from the past decade: Utah Softball: Pac-12 Retrospective
I am super thankful for all of you and I hope you are all staying safe!
Go Utes!
Coach A
Â
I am assuming all of you have heard the news by now ... about two weeks ago, our 2020 season abruptly ended. While we were in Seattle, the Pac-12 delivered the news to us that we were being POSTPONED for a couple weeks and that we should head home. As I tried to wrap my head around the news of the postponement, the NCAA sent out a tweet that they were CANCELLING the entire season (without even giving our conference a heads-up). My stomach dropped and all I could think about was our three seniors, BreOnna Castaneda, Claire Feldman and Alyssa Barrera.
I immediately pulled them aside in the breakfast room and had one of the most difficult conversations I have ever had. The year was over and probably had played their last game in a UTAH uniform. There were no words from them ... just tears.
After talking privately with our seniors, I gathered the rest of the team together in that dark and gloomy conference room at the Courtyard Marriott in Bellevue, Washington. Not long after we started sharing the devastating news, I realized that all of us would remember that room forever. There was so much disbelief. So much sadness and anger. So much confusion and so many questions from everyone. The emotions were deep and that room will be forever seared into my mind.
Obviously, our number one job after delivering the news, was to get home. We were able to check out and fly back to Utah that evening.
A lot has happened since that day. Even though we were disappointed in the abrupt cancellation of the season (instead of the original plan to postpone things), it seemed inevitable. Classes moved online and we have recently encouraged our student-athletes to move off campus and to their permanent home addresses.
Daily life, compared to two weeks ago, is extremely different for this group (as is true for most of the world). Our main focus right now as an athletic department is the safety and well-being of our student-athletes. We are tracking where they are and how their physical and mental health is coping during this time. We have been using Zoom and other platforms to stay in touch and to keep the support levels high.
After the safety measures were put in place, academics was the next priority. We have tutors and mentors still running strong for the team. We were told that for eligibility purposes, we cannot assume there will be any changes to how they qualify for competition, so getting good grades is essential. The academic support services have ramped everything up and worked around the clock for the teams.
As far as the plan moving forward, we are waiting to hear the biggest announcement from the NCAA regarding the chance for our spring sport student-athletes to get the year back. The vote from the Pac-12 is on Friday, and from what I have been told, we should know what the NCAA is planning to do, sometime on Monday.
I believe the core mission for all of us who work in athletics is to push for opportunities for our student-athletes to play. This is why we are fighting so hard for them. I've never appreciated our University President Ruth Watkins and our athletic director Mark Harlan more, than I do at this time. The work that is going on to support these student-athletes is at all all-time high. Our athletic department, our conference, our Pac-12 softball head coaches, you name it, are getting on calls to band together to do whatever it takes to support the student-athletes.
I amm crossing my fingers for our seniors to get the opportunity to have the season back. All of them, across each spring sport and in each class. Even though that decision will bring challenges of its own, I still hope they choose this so the student-athletes can get a chance to play.
We will know soon enough.
In the meantime, check out our website to enjoy a look back at some great Utah Softball moments from the past decade: Utah Softball: Pac-12 Retrospective
I am super thankful for all of you and I hope you are all staying safe!
Go Utes!
Coach A
Â
Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, April 15
Utah Softball's Jolie Mayfield Feature
Friday, March 28
Utah Softball - The Inaugural 1976 Team
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University of Utah Athletics - A Storied History
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