Mac On Sports

    One knows how serious COVID-19 is when the Big Ten releases a statement today (Saturday) telling all members no shoulder pads. Here’s the statement:     “The Big Ten Conference announced today, based on the advice and counsel of the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee,…

By J. Thomas McNamara     Decatur Caterpillar Thanksgiving Tournament Coordinator Melvin J. Roustio today (Wednesday, Aug. 5), officially announced there will not be a 51st annual Thanksgiving Tournament this November.     Roustio has advised the eight participating teams and news media that due to the recently announced Illinois High School Association’s sports participation guidelines that…

         As a result of District 61’s decision to go to remote learning for the first quarter, there will not be any athletics for elementary, middle and high school students.      Joe Caputo, the district’s athletics coordinator, confirmed it Monday night in response to an inquiry from the Decatur Tribune. “Decatur Public Schools 61 Elementary-Middle-High…

         As expected, the Illinois High School Association Board of Directors at its special meeting Wednesday approved moving football, boys soccer and volleyball from the fall to the spring.          “This plan, like nearly every aspect of our current lives, remains fluid,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson.  “Changes may come, and if they do,…

     Sports Editor J. Thomas McNamara Gov. J. B. Pritzker announced earlier this afternoon (Wednesday, July 29) there will not be any sports this fall without certain restrictions he placed on them being met which for all practical purposes means no football.     We’re still awaiting the Illinois High School Association announcement regarding its…

    The MacArthur community is grieving today (Wednesday, July 29) after the death earlier of girls basketball head coach Mike (Dubbs) Williams.     “Very sad day, my girls and I are crushed,” wrote MacArthur Athletics Director Jason Crutcher on the passing of his girls basketball coach.     “The girls are just,” Crutcher wrote.”I don’t even know…

    Millikin President Dr. Jim Reynolds and Athletics Director Dr. Craig White released these statements Monday after the College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin Council of Presidents announced cancellation of all fall sports.         “While I wish we could provide a return to competition for all of our student athletes, the responsible choice and the unanimous…

       The College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin cancelled all fall sports because of the pandemic.      The CCIW Council of Presidents unanimously voted to cancel fall sports     I will have more on this developing story in a future print edition of the Decatur Tribune.

    District 61 this afternoon (Friday, July 24) released information that an employee had tested positive for COVID-19, and that all athletics and other extracurricular activities have been suspended (paused) indefinitely.     District Athletic Coordinator Joe Caputo, , who took over responsibility for athletics after Dr. Fred Bouchard left June 30, said the district has…