Dani Jones, Track & Field National Athlete of the Year
Buffs Bits
In March, Dani Jones (Psych, SLHSci’20) was named the Track & Field National Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. … Mikaela Tommy (Env Des’20) was recognized as the National Women’s Alpine Skier of the Year by the United States Collegiate Ski Coaches Association in April, capping a season in which she had nine podium appearances in 10 finished races. … Men’s basketball’s Tyler Bey (Ethn’21) was honored as the 2019–20 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. McKinley Wright (Ethn’21) joined Bey on the conference’s five-member All-Defensive squad. As of press time, both were testing the NBA draft waters. … CU Boulder athletic director Rick George was named to the College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee in January. … Laviska Shenault Jr. (EthnSt’21), Davion Taylor (Psych’20) and Arlington Hambright (MEdu ex’22) were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft in April. Steven Montez (StComm’20), Tony Brown (Soc’20) and Delrick Abrams Jr. (EthnSt’20) signed as NFL free agents.
NCAA Cancels Spring Sports
On March 12, 2020, the NCAA canceled the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments and the remaining winter and upcoming spring championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the Pac-12 suspended all organized team activities through at least May 31. On March 30, the NCAA voted to allow schools to provide spring-sport student-athletes an additional season of competition and an extension of their five-year period of eligibility. Financial aid rules have been adjusted to help schools support incoming student-athletes and those now returning for an additional season. In April, CU athletic director Rick George told Sports Illustrated, “If seniors decide to come back and coaches are in agreement, squad limits will not be counted in their financial aid limitations. So, we can provide scholarships or financial aid to student-athletes above the financial aid limits currently.” Winter athletes were not granted an additional year of eligibility.
Coach Talk
We're just going to maximize the chance we get with our players...We're not going to use any excuses."
— First-year head football coach Karl Dorrell. The Buffs were one of three Pac-12 schools yet to begin spring practices when the conference shut down all team activities due to COVID-19.
Photo by Patrick Campbell
