Pac-12: Let’s play the Apple Cup this weekend – Here’s how to do it
The Solution
Pac-12
By all accounts, both Washington and Washington State are good to go. Play the Apple Cup game this weekend. It’s a staple of Pac-12 football and makes area fans happy. This is the easy part. In addition, a televised virtual Battle of the Bands as an add-on event would be really cool.
Mountain West
So far, San Diego County isn’t under the same restrictions as either Los Angeles or Santa Clara Counties, despite a surge in COVID-19 cases. Stanford and USC could play each other on Sunday in sunny San Diego. There is an added bonus by moving the game that far south.
San Diego State is scheduled for a Mountain West game against Colorado State. The Pac-12 should have a better handle on the situation by Tuesday. Pay SDSU and the Mountain West to keep the Aztecs available this weekend.
That way, if either USC or Stanford can’t play, there is a replacement in the wings, San Diego State. Last week, the Aztecs used a COVID-19 induced bye week to take on Colorado. They know the drill.
There has been a bevy of cancellations in the MWC recently. Both Boise State and San Jose State might not be able to play this weekend. It shouldn’t be a problem to re-route Colorado State to any other conference site that isn’t Hawai’i. Even if the Rainbow Warriors are the odd team out, they were coming to the mainland anyway this week, so playing at another Mountain West school shouldn’t pose a big logistical issue.
The Pac-12 has three big weapons at their disposal to make this all happen; money, clout, and their own television network. Concessions can (and should) be made to guarantee the Mountain West Conference and any affected schools are adequately compensated.
Pac-12 – Make it happen.
What do you think about Washington and Washington State playing this weekend? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.