http://www.oregonlive.com/pac-12/in..._beavers_kickoff_time.html#incart_river_index
EUGENE -- The Pac-12 is monitoring the smoky skies in the Willamette Valley and could potentially alter kickoff times -- or, in a worst-case scenario, the date -- for Saturday's home games at Oregon and Oregon State.
Though forecasts call for a chance of showers later this week, as of Tuesday morning air quality in Eugene was deemed "hazardous" by the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency due to several wildfires in the state. Oregon hosts Nebraska, and Oregon State hosts Minnesota, on Saturday.
"Oregon and Oregon State have been working closely with the relevant regional air protection agency, the Pac-12, and their own medical personnel to monitor and assess the air quality situation since the fires broke out," Andrew Walker, the Pac-12's vice president of public affairs, wrote in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. "Based upon the information provided by the air protection agency and the expert health and safety advice of the respective University medical professionals, a decision will be made on whether or not to adjust game times and/or dates with the safety of student-athletes and fans as a priority."
Walker added that "any decision will be based on the air quality readings before the game and the expert advice of medical professionals."
Based on the advice of UO administrators and doctors, the Ducks departed Eugene Tuesday morning for the Oregon coast, where it will practice at Siuslaw Middle School an hour west in Florence.
UO coach Willie Taggart said that air quality would have been an issue had UO tried to practice in its indoor facility, the Moshofsky Center.
"We don't want any distraction while we're practicing and the smoke is a little distraction but it also can cause some health issues, so we're going to make sure our guys are healthy and we're able to get a good practice in," Taggart said.
On the Pac-12 coaches conference call later Tuesday morning, he added that "we got a big game this week and wanted to go out and practice like we're used to practicing."
-- Andrew Greif
EUGENE -- The Pac-12 is monitoring the smoky skies in the Willamette Valley and could potentially alter kickoff times -- or, in a worst-case scenario, the date -- for Saturday's home games at Oregon and Oregon State.
Though forecasts call for a chance of showers later this week, as of Tuesday morning air quality in Eugene was deemed "hazardous" by the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency due to several wildfires in the state. Oregon hosts Nebraska, and Oregon State hosts Minnesota, on Saturday.
"Oregon and Oregon State have been working closely with the relevant regional air protection agency, the Pac-12, and their own medical personnel to monitor and assess the air quality situation since the fires broke out," Andrew Walker, the Pac-12's vice president of public affairs, wrote in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. "Based upon the information provided by the air protection agency and the expert health and safety advice of the respective University medical professionals, a decision will be made on whether or not to adjust game times and/or dates with the safety of student-athletes and fans as a priority."
Walker added that "any decision will be based on the air quality readings before the game and the expert advice of medical professionals."
Based on the advice of UO administrators and doctors, the Ducks departed Eugene Tuesday morning for the Oregon coast, where it will practice at Siuslaw Middle School an hour west in Florence.
UO coach Willie Taggart said that air quality would have been an issue had UO tried to practice in its indoor facility, the Moshofsky Center.
"We don't want any distraction while we're practicing and the smoke is a little distraction but it also can cause some health issues, so we're going to make sure our guys are healthy and we're able to get a good practice in," Taggart said.
On the Pac-12 coaches conference call later Tuesday morning, he added that "we got a big game this week and wanted to go out and practice like we're used to practicing."
-- Andrew Greif
