Gonzaga - Saturday 1/7

by blacksheep Fri Jan 06, 2017 8:42 am

Let's change the subject from the Santa Clara game! Gonzaga is 5th in the AP poll and undefeated. Not much to say except that this is probably the best Gonzaga team we've ever faced.

Saturday is supposed to be another Snowpocalypse in Portland. It will be interesting to see if the game is even played and if it is, how may people are able to show up. Any word on when Gonzaga is getting into town? I assume the team will have no trouble getting to the game, but making it home safely might be an issue. I'm walking distance to the Chiles Center, so even if I don't want to drive, I will make it.

To sum up how I feel:

by DoubleDipper Fri Jan 06, 2017 12:47 pm

blacksheep wrote:Let's change the subject from the Santa Clara game! Gonzaga is 5th in the AP poll and undefeated. Not much to say except that this is probably the best Gonzaga team we've ever faced.

I don't think there's any doubt the Pilots will play better against GU then they did against SCU, but there is also no doubt this is the best GU team of all time....a real All-Star team, IMO.

Yes the Zags are in town, but the biggest problem getting home will be driving back to the airport. Remember, GU flies on a chartered jet and they're usually back in Spokane the same night they play an away game. Even if there is a lengthy delay getting to the airport the plane won't go without them. When the Pilots had to cancel their trip to Boise it was because their scheduled flight was canceled, and by the time the airlines got back on schedule and the planes started flying again there were too many passengers on those flights to accommodate UP's travel contingent. That doesn't happen with a charter flight....GU is the only passenger!

HOWEVER: One thing the pilots won't fly in is freezing rain! If the airport is hit with rain or drizzle when temperatures hover near the freezing point, the PDX or HIO authorities will consider shutting down their airports.

The reason? In such conditions, aircraft can gather ice faster than de-icing equipment can remove it, and ice can also wreak havoc on every other part of airport operations. An aircraft can lose traction in the ice, making it difficult to control. Critical equipment can freeze, and braking can become uncertain if not impossible.

Snow, wind, and low temperatures are not a problem for a commercial size aircraft, but if there is anything beyond light freezing drizzle at the time GU wants to head home, there's a good chance their pilots will tell them to find a place to sleep until the freezing rain stops.

by Dean Murdoch Sat Jan 07, 2017 9:53 am

How's the weather this morning, Portland folk?

(It's -28 celsius here...I think that's around -20 in freedom units)

by blacksheep Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:02 am

Dean Murdoch wrote:How's the weather this morning, Portland folk?

(It's -28 celsius here...I think that's around -20 in freedom units)

Cold, but no ice yet. I saw a forecast of 3/4 of an inch (not sure of the communist conversion) of ice. Should be an interesting drive!

by DoubleDipper Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:22 am

When asked if the game will be played, AD Scott Leykam tweeted:

That's the plan. That being said, we will closely monitor all advisories and recommendations from city and weather authorities.

and

We strongly encourage all of our fans to stay safe and use best judgement on local roads and pavement

by blacksheep Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:56 am

Snow just started in under the St Johns Bridge.

If anyone in Nopo needs a ride, send me a PM. My truck is getting chained up as soon as I finish this batch of delicious homebrew!

by dholcombe Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:08 am

Forecast is for less than 2" of snow....but up to 3/4" inch of ice to follow.

by DoubleDipper Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:13 am

More from Scott:

Understand & respect concerns & thoughts of everyone today. Watching everything closely & in constant dialogue w/key contacts around city.

by blacksheep Sat Jan 07, 2017 11:37 am

DoubleDipper wrote:More from Scott:
Understand & respect concerns & thoughts of everyone today. Watching everything closely & in constant dialogue w/key contacts around city.

Making up a league game is tough. As long as the teams and event staff can be safe, play the game. So what if most fans can't make it. They can bundle up by their TV with a hot toddy.

by VillaGorilla Sat Jan 07, 2017 1:38 pm

Dean Murdoch wrote:that's around -20 in freedom units

Huh, is that what the "F" stands for . . .

by DoubleDipper Sat Jan 07, 2017 1:47 pm

It would seem many are expressing concerns about safety. This from Scott:

Still watching forecast and working the phones. Trying to get all the information we can before making a final decision this afternoon.

Never want to postpone a game. But have to factor in the safety of fans, players and officials before, during and after the game.

2 o'clock EDIT:

The goal at this point is to make a decision by 3:00 so all parties can plan accordingly.

by **PilotNut** Sat Jan 07, 2017 2:51 pm

Tonight's 6pm Blazers game has been postponed until tomorrow... same with the Winterhawks.

by DoubleDipper Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:00 pm

PilotNut wrote:Tonight's 6pm Blazers game has been postponed until tomorrow... same with the Winterhawks.

My guess is the Pilots game will be postponed and that everyone is scrambling to establish a makeup time and date.

Scott tweets:

We expect to announce a decision on tonight's game by 3:15.

by dholcombe Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:06 pm

Weather is looking pretty good to me. Just snow, no ice out here in the western burbs and looks like it's not expected to warm up til midnight now so it would seem the ice won't appear until late

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:40 pm

Decision deadline is a moving target.

@sleykam wrote:Conversations are ongoing with the league office. We will have an update asap.

As of 3:36pm.

by dholcombe Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:51 pm

Postponed to a later date. That language sounds like not tomorrow

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:52 pm

@sleykam wrote:Tonight's game has been postponed due to safety concerns for the student athletes, officials, staff and fans.

@sleykam wrote:We will work with the league office this week to establish a makeup date.

by DoubleDipper Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:53 pm

dholcombe wrote:Postponed to a later date. That language sounds like not tomorrow

GAME WILL NOT BE PLAYED TONIGHT

Scott writes:

We will work with the league office this week to establish a makeup date

by Geezaldinho Sat Jan 07, 2017 3:54 pm

Game postponed. Maybe later this week, but nothing is set.

by Guest Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:13 pm

Geezaldinho wrote:Game postponed. Maybe later this week, but nothing is set.

@sleykam wrote:After consultation with WCC officials, the game will not be played this weekend. Makeup date still to be announced.

Now what do I do on a Saturday night? Guess watch the Seahawks.

by PilotDrummer Sat Jan 07, 2017 4:19 pm

Boy, there are some SALTY GU fans in Scott's/UP's twitter mentions.

I think this was the right call. I mean, I'd have just walked the 1.5 miles...and probably been the only band member there! Hopefully this means the game will be postponed to a date where the students can actually attend!

by jake Sat Jan 07, 2017 5:33 pm

PilotDrummer wrote:Boy, there are some SALTY GU fans in Scott's/UP's twitter mentions.

I think this was the right call. I mean, I'd have just walked the 1.5 miles...and probably been the only band member there! Hopefully this means the game will be postponed to a date where the students can actually attend!

It's the right call if the chance of freezing rain is significant. It's not for the snow that's out there. They canceled 2 minutes after I got my babysitter here and had to take them back from Oregon City to near Rocky Butte. No problems. Freeways are fine.

Why not play tomorrow?

by ExpatPilot Sat Jan 07, 2017 5:34 pm

PilotDrummer wrote:Boy, there are some SALTY GU fans in Scott's/UP's twitter mentions.

I just went and read those for some reason (call it academic curiousity). I would love it if UP became such a household name that we had fans all over but there are always those crazies that come with such prominence. The amount of salt from those GU "fans'" tweets is strange given the situation. Weird time to talk smack to an AD via Twitter too.

by DoubleDipper Sun Jan 08, 2017 1:20 pm

My thoughts exactly:

First the Portland Winterhawks cancelled their contest with Everett, allowing the Silvertips to get out of town before the roads shut down. Then the Blazers axed their game, citing fan safety.

Once that happened, it was going to be hard for the University of Portland to keep its game with Gonzaga on the docket. A safety-precedent had been set. Hold the sold-out WCC game and someone gets hurt in the parking lot? Portland's personal injury attorneys would have been in nearby booth with a sign-up sheet.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/jan/08/grip-sports-gonzagas-icy-reception-portland-will-m/

I've been told the game will not be played tomorrow (Monday)....not sure why, it must be a coordination problem....so the likely makeup date will be the Monday or Tuesday (February 27 or 28) before the WCC Tournament starts in Las Vegas. If so, that means the Pilots will not be able to play the hoped for "tune-up" game against a local university to make up for the cancelled Boise State game.

by dholcombe Sun Jan 08, 2017 1:23 pm

Roads are much worse now than at/after the original game time. Pretty good reason not to be playing today at least when I look out my door. I suspect the east side of town towards the gorge is much worse. Portland State played at home last night. Game probably would have gone off OK with the small amount of snow, but would have been a disaster if the freezing rain came in ahead of schedule.

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