Arizona
Big 12 debut brings new academic and travel hurdles for ASU, Arizona athletes – The Gila Herald
File photo by William Wilson/Cronkite News: As Arizona State transitions to the Big 12, logistical challenges loom for the equipment staff, with longer drives to games, some even on the East Coast.
By Joshua Heron/Cronkite News
LAS VEGAS – University of Arizona linebacker Jacob Manu plans to rely more heavily on his counselor this year. The prudent approach stems from the increased travel responsibility he will endure this upcoming college football season and the possible academic challenges that may arise.
Arizona, Arizona State University, the University of Utah and the University of Colorado will make their Big 12 Conference debut this upcoming football season. As a result, schools like Arizona and ASU now face more frequent travel outside the West Coast, including games against teams as far as the University of Central Florida.
The shift to new time zones brings challenges such as altered assignment submission deadlines and possibly reduced cognitive function among players due to jet lag. These factors generate concern about the athletes’ ability to maintain full focus on their education.
“Yeah, there might be some challenges academically,” Manu said Wednesday. “Just being so busy with football and having to travel with different time changes might be difficult.”
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark acknowledged the potential difficulties that more traveling may cause on an athlete’s academic pursuits and plans to set parameters to ensure their education remains paramount.
“Student-athletes travel, and inconveniences and the challenges that come with it are certainly something that we are considering,” Yormark said. “When you look at our scheduling matrix, it’s a big part of it. How do we reduce travel in ways we can and maintain the right rivalries and competitive spirit of the conference? It’s a balancing act. We are not always going to be perfect but we are trying to make sure that that is a key component in any decision we are making.”
Arizona is scheduled next season for a road game against the University of Central Florida, which is more than 2,100 miles from Tucson by equipment truck and one of three matchups way from the West Coast. First-year Arizona coach Brent Brennan trusts his school’s staff to assist students when academic struggles may arise due to travel.
“We have incredible academic support,” Brennan said. “And as a coaching staff, we are very serious about supporting the academic mission of our university.”
While ASU won’t travel to Florida, the Sun Devils travel outside the West Coast five times this upcoming season compared to zero last year. They will play on the road against Texas Tech, Texas State, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State.
ASU athletic director Graham Rossini says preparation before travel is critical to ensure players can focus on their schoolwork, adding that the adjustment for the university won’t be difficult, but instead, “different than what we’re used to.” He says the distance traveled doesn’t change but acknowledges the time zone shift and believes the onus to take care of the athletes rests not only on the coaching staff.
“We’re tapping into our sports medicine team, our sports performance team, our nutrition team,” Rossini said. “And there are things that we can do ahead of a trip to make sure that we’re focused on peak performance and recovery, knowing that their student-athletes have demands on their time and academic expectations.”
Rossini recognizes the importance of asking practical questions when traveling across time zones to guarantee the players meet their academic expectations.
“And so how we travel, the time that we leave. Do we need to add an extra day on the particular road trips, depending on where we’re traveling? All that enters the conversations as we know that traveling the Big 12 will be a little bit different,” Rossini said. “And so, looking at all that, what do we do for meals pre-trip, on the trip, when we land? How do we find a responsible way to get into decent times so everybody gets a good night’s rest and is prepared to go compete?
Rossini added that the athletics department must be “mindful” of the students’ classroom expectations by ensuring they’ve got “space in the hotels” to complete exams and attend classes if needed.
“The student athlete’s well-being and experience are very much front and center of how we make decisions,” Rossini said.
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit focused on spreading the importance of academics among amateur football players. NFF chief operating officer Matthew Sign places the onus on each university to provide necessary markers for students to thrive academically but maintains confidence in the schools’ collective plan.
“For the most part, especially as you move up the ladder, those schools do a really good job of trying to prepare the young men for what’s going to happen,” Sign said. “From what we see and what we hear … they’re all working on this, and I think they all have a good plan for it. Is it going to be difficult? Yes. But everyone’s just going to have to adapt.”
ASU defensive back Xavion Alford believes the time difference presents a new academic obstacle for athletes, but his advice to all players is simple: “Don’t procrastinate.”
“You (athletes) know you have practice from Thursdays on. It kind of gets real in the week,” Alford said. “Take care of your work on the weekends before, like Sundays, use days like that. Use the beginning of the week to knock out your work so you can focus on just the game throughout the end of the week.”
For Alford, business is business no matter the zone, and no matter if it’s on the field or in the classroom.
“There’s time differences everywhere, you still got to get the job done,” he said. “We just got to prepare as much as we can for the time zone, but at the end of the day, we still have a job to do.”
Arizona
High-upside three-star CB commits to Arizona over Washington football
The Washington Huskies saw one of their few remaining uncommitted targets in the 2027 class go elsewhere on Thursday afternoon when three-star cornerback Evan Mack announced his commitment to Jedd Fisch’s former program, the Arizona Wildcats.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound product of Crean Lutheran High School in Southern California chose coach Brent Brennan’s team out of a final three that also included the Huskies and Arizona State, after official visits to all three programs.
After taking an unofficial visit to Seattle for spring practice in April, Mack took his first official visit, a trip to Arizona State, on May 1. Then, he returned to Montlake on June 5, before wrapping things up in Tucson on June 19, which made enough of an impact for the Wildcats to win the battle for his services.
As a junior, the nation’s No. 613 overall prospect and No. 64 cornerback, according to the 247Sports Composite, tallied 49 tackles, 10 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions, while showcasing the promising athleticism and ball skills that secondary coach John Richardson is looking for on the outside.
If he were to have chosen the Huskies, Mack, who has plenty of room to add weight to his frame for the physicality of the Big Ten, would’ve had a long route to the field. Behind projected starters Dylan Robinson and Emmanuel Karnley, who both have eligibility to return in 2027, Washington’s coaching staff is expecting a contribution from four-star freshman Rahsjon Duncan on the outside, while his classmate Jeron Jones and sophomore Elias Johnson both stood out during spring practice.
The Huskies currently have one commit at cornerback in three-star Maurice Williams; however, the Huskies also hold several projections to reel in coveted four-star IMG Academy product Censere Gaylord.
Arizona
Arizona Chamber installs Monica Coury as board chair – Chamber Business News
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry has installed Monica Coury, vice president of external affairs at Arizona Complete Health, as chair of its board of directors, as the organization begins its new fiscal year.
Coury officially assumed the chairmanship during a ceremonial passing of the gavel at the Chamber’s June 26 board meeting. She succeeds Ted Geisler, president and CEO of APS, who served as board chair over the past two years.
As chair, Coury will lead the Chamber’s board while helping guide the organization’s efforts to advance policies that strengthen Arizona’s economy, improve the state’s business climate, and promote long-term prosperity.
“It is an incredible honor to serve as chair of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry,” Coury said. “I want to thank my fellow board members for the confidence they’ve placed in me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the Chamber’s outstanding team. The Chamber has long been one of Arizona’s most effective and respected advocates on behalf of the state’s job creators, and I look forward to building on that legacy as we continue working to make Arizona the best place in the nation to live, work, and do business.”
Coury has served on the Chamber’s board for several years. She previously chaired the Public Affairs Committee and most recently served as chair-elect. In her role at Arizona Complete Health, she oversees one of the state’s leading health plans and has been a prominent voice on issues involving healthcare access, workforce development, and Arizona’s economic competitiveness.
“Monica is an exceptional leader whose collaborative approach, strategic vision, and deep commitment to Arizona make her the ideal person to lead our board,” said Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry. “She understands that a strong economy depends on smart public policy, and she has consistently brought thoughtful leadership and sound judgment to the Chamber. I look forward to working closely with Monica as we continue advancing policies that help Arizona employers create jobs, invest, and grow.”
Seiden also thanked Geisler for his leadership during a period that included significant legislative successes and continued growth for the Chamber.
“Ted has been an outstanding chairman, a trusted partner, and a friend,” Seiden said. “His steady leadership, business acumen, and unwavering commitment to Arizona’s economic future have helped position the Chamber for continued success. We are grateful for his service and look forward to his continued counsel and involvement on our board.”
The Chamber also installed the following governing board officers:
- Chair-elect: Jimmy Lindblom, Willmeng Construction
- Vice-chair, audit & finance: Don Isaacson, Isaacson Law Firm
- Vice-chair, manufacturing: Angela Creedon, Intel
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry is Arizona’s leading statewide business advocacy organization, representing employers of every size and industry across the state. The Chamber’s mission is to advance Arizona’s competitiveness through policies that foster economic growth, job creation, and opportunity for all Arizonans.
Arizona
Records: Toddler found alive in hospital morgue after being pronounced dead by Arizona doctor
GILBERT, AZ — An Arizona toddler was found breathing inside a Gilbert hospital morgue after being declared dead hours earlier by an Arizona doctor, according to police records.
A police report and body camera video reviewed by the ABC15 Investigators show that two Gilbert police officers saw signs of life multiple times, but the toddler was still taken to the hospital’s “cold room,” which is also considered to be the morgue.
One officer wrote in the police report that the baby was pronounced dead “in error” by the Mercy Gilbert doctor even after a tense exchange about a pulse possibly being detected.
The 18-month-old was rushed to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center after he was found inside the family’s pool on Super Bowl Sunday in February.
It has taken months for the Gilbert police to release public records related to the near-drowning.
The ABC15 Investigators reviewed a half dozen body camera videos, including videos from the initial drowning scene and videos inside the hospital. Most of the videos are heavily blurred, and most of the audio has been muted, but one critical moment was captured between the doctor and the officer.
According to the police report, the officer wrote that a nurse in another room said: “I have a pulse.”
ABC15 is committed to finding the answers you need and holding those accountable.
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The officer wrote that when he tried to alert the doctor who was with the family in another room, the doctor appeared to dismiss the concerns, “[The doctor] arrogantly told me he was the doctor, he has the medical degree, he went to medical school for a reason, and to let him do his thing.”
Records show that shortly after that exchange, the doctor went on to declare the baby dead.
Over the next hour, two Gilbert police officers continued to document signs of life in their police report.
One officer wrote, “The release of air was audible and visible,” later writing, “It also began to sound like [redacted] was gasping for air.”
The report goes on to say that when medical staff went to move the boy’s body to the morgue, the officer wrote that she “observed what appeared to be another audible gasp.”
That was not the last time she heard signs of life, either.
While inside the morgue, the officer said, “I again observed what appeared to be a gasp or air release, which was now almost an hour later.”
A nurse who was there said those sounds could be a response to efforts to save the toddler.
Some of the last audio recordings heard on the body camera videos were of an officer telling the family that they could say goodbye.
The report says, hours later, at 11:52 p.m., the Medical Examiner’s transport showed up and found the toddler was breathing inside the hospital morgue. He was then flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for treatment.
An MRI said that the baby had brain damage, and we are told he will need lifelong care.
An attorney representing the family declined to comment.
Mercy Gilbert said in a statement, “This is a heartbreaking situation. We immediately conducted a thorough review of all aspects of the care provided to learn what happened and to make meaningful changes to strengthen our care. Out of respect for the patient’s privacy, we cannot discuss details. We continue to work with the family and their representative. Patient safety and exceptional care is our highest priority.”
HAVE A TIP? Email Investigator Nicole Grigg at nicole.grigg@abc15.com.
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