Athletics Updates Regarding COVID-19
March 13, 2020 | Administration
This webpage will host all updates from or related to Oregon State Athletics in response to the COVID-19 virus, with the most recent updates posted at the top of the page. Updates contained on this page are pursuant to Oregon State Athletics only, and not comprehensive. For further information, please visit the Oregon State University Coronavirus information page, the NCAA Coronavirus information page, the Oregon Health Authority page, and the Center for Disease Control page.
ÂApril 14, 6:00 p.m.
Scott Barnes Addresses Beaver NationÂ
Dear Beaver Nation;
I'd like to take this opportunity to give you an update on Oregon State Athletics as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 crises.
In all my years as an intercollegiate athletics administrator, I have never been more proud of the work that is being done by our coaches and staff to ensure the wellbeing of our student-athletes. I also am amazed by the outpouring we have received from our donors and fans as we navigate these uncertain times. Thank you for reminding me how special Beaver Nation is.
The cancellation of the spring sports schedules and the winter sports postseasons have had a significant financial impact on our department. Our revenue shortfalls are coming from multiple levels including local, Pac-12, and NCAA revenue streams. We are doing everything we can to mitigate these losses without directly impacting our student-athletes. Here are a few significant short term measures we will be implementing immediately:
- Head Football Coach Jonathan Smith, Head Men's Basketball Coach Wayne Tinkle and I will donate 7% of our annual salaries over the next year
- Athletic Executive and other select staff members and all other head coaches will donate up to 5% of their annual salaries based on salary level over the next year Â
- We will have a mandated spending freeze for all non-essential items for the remainder of the 2019-20 fiscal year
- Annual Facilities debt will be restructured to reduce 2020 debt service payment
- A selective pause on new hires will be in place until further noticeÂ
The Sports Performance staff has spent countless hours producing workout instructional videos for our student-athletes to access online platforms. They have shipped equipment packages, adhering to Pac-12 Conference regulations, to each of our young men and women. We've also sent nutrition guidelines and recipes through our portals from our sports nutritionist.
On a brighter note, the response from Beaver Nation regarding our new head wrestling coach Chris Pendleton has been off the charts. I'm excited to see what he brings to the mat once we return to normalcy. I'm also ecstatic about the rate of renewals for football season tickets for the 2020 season; your commitment is vital to the success of OSU Athletics.
Due to your exceptional generosity, we have many donor-funded facility upgrades that continue to progress, including at our soccer and softball complexes. The Completing Reser Stadium project continues to move forward prudently with the upgrades to the west side.Â
In closing, we will get through these tough times together. I am grateful and proud of the coaches and leadership staff for stepping up with me and showing their generosity in support of our current departmental situation. We will play games as soon as possible and bring Beaver Nation together again. I'm excited about the fall sports season, particularly with what Coach Smith and his staff are doing to move us forward.
Stay healthy, be safe, and we look forward to seeing you on campus as soon as possible.
Go Beavs!
S. Scott Barnes
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Oregon State University
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March 19, 4:00 p.m.
An Update from Scott Barnes
Beaver Nation,
I'd like to take a moment to update you on the state of Beaver Athletics.
Through all the uncertainty and ever-changing landscape this past week, my number one priority has remained the same – the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff. I have been in constant communication with our medical professionals and head coaches to ensure that all of the needs of our student-athletes are being met. Our staff and coaches have been working tirelessly on all the necessary contingency plans and I can't thank them enough for their efforts.
In conjunction with our Pac-12 peers and the other Power 5 Conferences around the country, we made the difficult but correct decision to cancel all athletic competitions for the remainder of this athletic season. My heart breaks for all the student-athletes who won't have the opportunity to compete this season, but it is my hope that we can find ways to make it up to them in the future.
Yesterday, the University announced that it will move to remote instruction for all of spring term. I fully support this decision and am working to ensure this doesn't have any negative impacts on the academic progress of our student-athletes.
We have also postponed all athletic department events indefinitely based on the social distancing recommendations of Governor Kate Brown. We will provide updated information as it becomes available.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions that you might have. While we have closed in-person visits at our ticket office, our phones remain open. You can reach us at (541) 737-4455 Monday thru Friday from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., or you can reach us via email at beaver.ticket@oregonstate.edu.
I've also been thinking a great deal about all of you and how fortunate I am to be a member of this special community. We are following all the social distancing recommendations of our state leaders and encourage all of you to do the same. I hope all of you are healthy and safe. I'm confident that we will get through these uncertain times together and that our best days are ahead.
Go Beavs!
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S. Scott Barnes
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Oregon State University
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March 14, 12:00 p.m.
Pac-12 statement cancelling all sports for remainder of academic year & decision on organized team activitiesÂ
At a meeting of the Pac-12 CEO Group and Athletic Directors earlier today, the Pac-12 made the decision to cancel all Pac-12 conference and non-conference sport competitions and Pac-12 championships through the end of the academic year, including spring sports that compete beyond the academic year. Â This decision follows both the Pac-12's earlier decision to suspend all sports until further notice, and the decision by the NCAA to cancel the Division I men's and women's 2020 NCAA basketball tournaments as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships.
In addition, the Pac-12 Conference has made the decision to prohibit all organized team athletically-related activities until at least March 29, at which time it will revisit this decision.Â
March 13 | 4:00 p.m.
Ticket Purchase Credit Update
Single-game ticket purchasers for the final home gymnastics meet, and upcoming softball and baseball games will receive a credit equal to their amount of purchase on their account, which could be applied toward any future Oregon State Athletics ticket purchase in the 2020-21 athletic year.
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Season-ticket holders for gymnastics, softball and baseball will receive a pro-rated credit on their account, which could be applied toward any future Oregon State Athletics ticket purchase in the 2020-21 athletic year.
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For any inquiries, please email beaver.ticket@oregonstate.edu. The ticket office is closed for walk-up customers at this time. However, the phone line at 541-737-4455 will be open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. until further notice.Â
March 13 | 1:33 p.m.
OSU Athletics Suspends Events and Workouts
Oregon State Athletics has announced it has suspended all athletic-related activities and events, including practices for all student-athletes through March 29. This policy is based on social distancing recommendations presented by medical professionals. Department leadership, in conjunction with the NCAA, the Pac-12 Conference, and medical professionals, are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 virus nationally and internationally. Updates to future athletics-related events will be made as merited.
March 13 | 11:30 a.m.
Division I Council Coordination Committee agrees eligibility relief is appropriate for spring sports
NCAA Division I Council Coordination Committee has agreed that eligibility relief is appropriate for all Division I student-athletes who participated in spring sports. Details of eligibility relief will be finalized at a later time. Additional issues with NCAA rules must be addressed, and appropriate governance bodies will work through those in the coming days and weeks.
March 12 | 4:07 p.m.
NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships
NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men's and women's 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.
March 12 | 9:17 a.m.
Pac-12 Cancels Competitions and Championships
The Pac-12 Conference has made the decision to cancel the remainder of the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament and all Pac-12 sport competitions and Pac-12 Championship events, effective immediately, until further notice. The decision has been made in consultation with our member universities in an effort to limit the spread of the virus and in the interest of the health and safety of our student-athletes, campus personnel, working and event personnel, and all those who attend Pac-12 events.
March 11 | 8:30 p.m.
Hillsboro "Stand Beside Her" Softball Tour postponed
After assessing the recent updates surrounding COVID-19, USA Softball has made the decision to postpone the Seattle, Hillsboro and Eugene "Stand Beside Her" tour stops, presented by Major League Baseball. Oregon State softball was scheduled to play Team USA in Hillsboro.
