Amidst all the buzz surrounding the NCAA Division I volleyball season, the controversy in the Mountain West Conference, where no team has advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament since 2017, is getting a lot of attention.
The ongoing forfeiture crisis in the Mountain West Conference escalated this week. University of Nevada players announced they would not play their scheduled Oct. 26 home game against San Jose State, contrary to the school’s athletic department’s announcement the day before.
The crux of their actions centers on a San Jose State University athlete who is identified as a transgender woman.
Once again for the willfully ignorant. The student-athlete in question played college volleyball for three years. She has not publicly stated her gender identity so far. If she were transgender, she would already meet NCAA regulations and be eligible.
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Nevada players drafted a statement and sent it to Outkick, a well-known anti-trans media outlet.
“Our University of Nevada, Reno women’s volleyball team stands united with the Southern Utah University, Boise State University, University of Wyoming, and Utah State University volleyball teams following our loss to San Jose State University,” the statement read. are. . “We demand that our rights to on-court safety and fair competition be protected. We refuse to participate in any matches that promote injustice against female athletes.”
In response, the university issued a statement saying that the game would go ahead and that “the players’ decisions do not represent the university’s position.”
The university’s statement also cited Nevada law and NCAA regulations, which raises the question of how the Wolfpack can play against the Spartans if they don’t have the numbers needed to field a team. .
“Athletic Director” Carly Webb has an idea about that.
I plan on starting Thursday as the team leaves to play Boise State that night. There will be an official announcement from me and a full-page ad will be placed in the Nevada Sagebrush, the independent newspaper on campus.
University of Nevada, Reno students interested in playing NCAA Division I volleyball this year are encouraged to meet at the Virginia Street Gym at 6 a.m. Saturday morning for tryouts.
I’ll be waiting to see them when the team returns from Thursday night’s game against Boise State.
To set the mood, I’ll be wearing Colin Kaepernick’s throwback Nevada jersey.
Greeting the team begins with a question. “Who’s going to play against San Jose State next week?”
Most, if not all, will keep their hands down.
Then, tell each team member that they have until 6 a.m. Saturday to reconsider their position. If they don’t, the season will be over and the school will be represented by a young woman who hasn’t spiked Tachikara since high school or is doing well in dorm league volleyball. In your uniform.
I think one of the players who chose to sit out would ask, “Ma’am, what about the school’s statement that there will be no discipline?”
“Oh, yes,” I reply. “As we said this week, there will be no disciplinary action. That doesn’t mean there won’t be one. result”
Nevada women’s volleyball has two seniors this year. The Wolfpack has 11 first-year and second-year players. That means some of them may have played their last game.
But the team must continue. Teams must play all games. And to make sure the team could do that, they were going to change players.
Who are some of the scholarship recipients? I’m honored to be such a person. For this year. Remember, NCAA scholarships are year-to-year contracts.
Players who survive tryouts will play in a game against Fresno State on October 24th for the remainder of the season. These players are guaranteed a chance to earn a scholarship next fall.
For current players who have decided to take this questionable stance. They need to regain the spot next season or they may have to consider the transfer portal. Personally, I recommend visiting the portal.
This is a no-win situation for anyone, except perhaps San Jose State senior setter Brooke Slusser. She’ll talk to every conservative anti-trans activist. However, he was reluctant to give an interview to the San Francisco Chronicle. Given her actions throughout this episode, it’s puzzling why she’s still on the SJSU team.
I hope Nevada’s student-athletes reconsider. They are making decisions based on fear. It’s driven by people who have a vested interest in peddling that fear, and they don’t deny it.
If these players follow through, it opens the door to creative, positive solutions that have the potential to revitalize our campuses. We have an opportunity to send a message that the University of Nevada does not act on prejudice or fear and does not want anyone wearing the dark blue and silver Wolf Pack while competing.
It takes fortitude to send that message. I have yet to see any announcements from these universities, conferences, or the NCAA.
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Source: Outsports – www.outsports.com
