Truett’s Chick-fil-A Sports
Truett’s Chick-fli-A, 264 Shorter Ave., 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Drive-through and Door Dash.
Mount Berry Mall, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. (curbside, carryout, Door Dash). Shipping Container, 6 a.m.-10 p.m. All Monday-Saturday.
Media release: The Southeastern Conference has established Sept. 26 as the new kickoff for its 2020 football season to allow its universities to focus on the healthy return of their campus communities and the gradual re-introduction of athletics, as the 14 members of the SEC continue to monitor developments related to COVID-19, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced Thursday.
The 2020 SEC football season will be comprised of a 10-game Conference-only schedule and the SEC Football Championship Game will be played Dec. 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, rescheduled from the original date of Dec. 5. The schedule will include one mid-season open date for each school and an open date on Dec. 12 for all schools.
“This new plan for a football schedule is consistent with the educational goals of our universities to allow for the safe and orderly return to campus of their student populations and to provide a healthy learning environment during these unique circumstances presented by the COVID-19 virus,” Sankey said. “This new schedule supports the safety measures that are being taken by each of our institutions to ensure the health of our campus communities.”
This action was taken following extensive discussions and thorough deliberation among the SEC’s Presidents and Chancellors, Athletics Directors, Conference Office staff, and medical advisors, led by the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force.
“After careful consideration of the public health indicators in our region and following advice of our medical advisors, we have determined that this is the best course of action to prepare for a safe and healthy return to competition for SEC student-athletes, coaches and others associated with our sports programs,” said Sankey.
The decision to limit competition to Conference-only opponents and rescheduling the SEC Championship Game is based on the need for maximum flexibility in making any necessary scheduling adjustments while reacting to developments around the pandemic and continued advice from medical professionals.
“We believe these schedule adjustments offer the best opportunity to complete a full season by giving us the ability to adapt to the fluid nature of the virus and the flexibility to adjust schedules as necessary if disruptions occur,” Sankey said. “It is regrettable that some of our traditional non-conference rivalries cannot take place in 2020 under this plan, but these are unique, and hopefully temporary, circumstances that call for unconventional measures.”
The rescheduled start to the season will allow the SEC to continue to monitor health trends across its 11-state footprint, as well as monitor developments in technology around mitigation and treatment of the virus, including:
- Trends in public health indicators throughout the SEC’s 11-state footprint, including positive cases of COVID-19, hospitalizations and recovery statistics
- State, local and campus heath directives, including restrictions on gatherings, isolation requirements for travelers, and other health and travel restrictions
- Continued development of risk mitigation strategies
- Continued advancement in COVID-19 testing reliability and availability
- Continued evolution of time-based strategies for resuming activities after positive test results, including contact tracing, isolation and quarantine requirements
- Observation of successes and challenges presented by return to competition in other sports
A revised schedule for the 2020 SEC football season will be announced at a later date following approval by the Conference’s athletics directors.
Further decisions regarding safety standards related to athletics events, tailgating and other game day activities, including social distancing, face covering and other health measures consistent with CDC, state and local guidelines, will be announced at a later date.

- Nia Allen / (G, 5-1, Model High School). Allen joins Berry as a local product out of Model High School. She competed for the Blue Devils for four years, helping the team to a pair of region championships and two Rome News Tribune Holiday Classic Tournament titles. The daughter of April and Kevin Allen, Nia plans to major in nursing.
GHSA posts heat/humidity policies: During another hot summer and fall, the Georgia High School Association urges all coaches and players to please train smart and stay safe. During conditioning and fall practice, the GHSA would like to remind everyone of the heat and humidity policies that are in place for ALL sports and not just football.
Schools must follow the statewide policy for conducting practices and voluntary conditioning workouts (this policy is year-round, including during the summer) in all sports during times of extremely high heat and/or humidity that will be signed by each head coach at the beginning of each season and distributed to all players and their parents or guardians. The policy shall follow modified guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine in regard to:
(1) The scheduling of practices at various heat/humidity levels.
(2) The ratio of workout time to time allotted for rest and hydration at various heat/humidity levels.
(3) The heat/humidity levels that will result in practice being terminated.
A scientifically-approved instrument that measures the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature must be utilized at each practice to ensure that the written policy is being followed properly. WBGT readings should be taken every hour, beginning 30 minutes before the beginning of practice.
- Practice Policy for Heat and Humidity
- GHSA Heat Index Measurement & Record Chart
- Frequently Asked Questions Re: GHSA Heat Policy
- Gatorade Heat Safety Package
Latest on fall football plans around the state: The AJC reports that…
Twiggs County will not play football this season; it is believed to be the second GHSA school to announce it isn’t playing football this fall. Riverside Military Academy, also a Class A school, made its decision in May. Pinecrest Academy, a Class A private school in Forsyth County, is playing eight-man football this season in lieu of its GHSA schedule.
BASEBALL
Atlanta Braves home tonight vs. Mets, 7:10 start. In town through Monday.
- Latest results: Braves 2, Rays 1. Max Fried began Thursday’s victory by going 14 up, 14 down, and his one-run start was a strong statement.
- Today: Home vs. Mets, 7:10 p.m.; here through Monday; all games at 7:10 p.m. games except Sunday at 1:10 p.m. Radio: 1410 AM/96.9 FFM
- 2020 Schedule / TV Braves
- Around the majors. MLB / Scores/Schedule / MLB Network
ACC releases 11-game schedule for each team per Sporting News: First games play Sept. 7-12.
Georgia Tech football schedule
- Home: Duke, Clemson, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pitt
- Away: Boston College, Florida State, Miami, N.C. State, Syracuse
Clemson football schedule
- Home: Boston College, Miami, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia
- Away: Florida State, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
COMMUNITY SPORTS
Rome Floyd Parks and Recreation registering for the fall sports season; early registration deadline is Aug. 14: Baseball, softball, t-ball, football, cheerleading and volleyball will all take place this fall and are currently registering for the season. Parents can take advantage of early-registration discounts if they sign their children up by Aug. 14t. Coaches and officials are also needed for several sports. For more: 706.291.0766, www.rfpra.com or visit our main office at 1 Shorter Ave.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 2020
Formal practice starts Monday per GHSA. The first games are now set for Friday, Sept. 4.
- Armuchee at Towns County.
- Rome vs. Rockmart at Barron Stadium.
- Model at Sonoraville.
- Cartersville at Morrow.
- Calhoun at Dalton.
- Cedartown at Carrollton.
- Gordon Central hosts Woodland.
- Trion: Open on Sept. 4 as of now.
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