The 2020 Kansas Shrine Bowl is still set for July 18, but situation remains fluid
One voice could cancel the 2020 Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Still scheduled for July 18 after a change of venue to Topeka’s Hummer Sports Complex, the Shrine Bowl remains one of the few sporting events in Kansas untouched by COVID-19’s crippling consequences. But the situation is understandably fragile, said B.J. Harris, the event’s executive director.
“We have a direct line to local health officials, who (are) going to be advising on that situation,” Harris said. “Like (one official) told me the other day, he said, ‘B.J., if I didn’t think this was a big concern, if I really didn’t think this was safe, you wouldn’t be having your event.’
“He said, ‘At any point, if I don’t feel it’s safe, you won’t have your event.’”
The 47th annual Shrine Bowl was set to be played at Washburn University’s Yager Stadium, but when the school closed its campus for the summer because of the pandemic, one of Kansas’ biggest sports events was forced to scramble. If the game is ultimately shelved this summer, 2020 would be the first year without a Shrine Bowl since 1973.
“But I’m pretty confident we’re going to be able to have football,” Harris said.
Last week, a student-athlete at Lost Springs’ Centre High School tested positive, and this week, Lawrence High suspended its summer conditioning workouts.
As of last week, 15 football players at the state’s two Division I schools that play football — 14 and Kansas State and one at Kansas — tested positive for COVID-19, the schools reported. Seven Shrine Bowl players have signed to compete at those schools in the fall. Forty others are headed to different colleges and universities.
Hadley Panzer, a Shrine Bowl selection, K-State signee and former Lakin offensive lineman, said although some incoming freshmen have been to Manhattan this summer, he hasn’t.
Panzer was scheduled to report in early June under normal circumstances, “but this is not normal,” he said.
“As of right now, we’re planning on playing in the game,” Panzer said. “Ever since spring break, when school got canceled, I’ve been home. Now I’m just looking forward to going out there and not playing for myself, but doing it for a better cause than just for football.”
Harris said the Shrine Bowl staff and Shawnee County health authorities are keeping tabs on the situation across the state.
When The Eagle provided an update on the Shrine Bowl’s status in April, no players on the East or West teams’ rosters had backed out of the game.
Harris said that after reaching out to every player and his family on both rosters, 85-90% of the original rosters are still intact, but a few players have elected to not participate because of COVID-19 concerns or altered offseason college football training schedules.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to find replacements of equal caliber,” Harris said. “But you can’t fault those kids who decided not to play.”
Practices have been slashed, too. Years ago, the East and West teams practiced for 10 days leading up to the game. In recent years, that duration has been reduced to eight days, and in 2020, teams will have only six together before meeting for the game at the Hummer Sports Complex.
The locations of those practices have changed, too. Both teams will be housed at the Ramada Inn in downtown Topeka at a negotiated rate, Harris said. The teams will practice in Topeka, as well, eliminating a day of travel: the East squad will work out at Washburn Rural and West will practice at Shawnee Heights.
Despite the harsh conditions that could potentially grow harsher, Harris and his Shrine Bowl staff have shown an commitment to the event and the kids it serves: not football players, but children at Shriners Hospitals who benefit from money made at the game.
There is some financial risk involved in keeping the event alive, Harris said. Fewer 2020 Shrine Bowl T-shirts will be available for purchase. Game programs will still be printed, but the potential remains that no fans will be allowed in the stands.
One cost has been graciously offloaded, Harris said. Sign Brothers, a printing company in Pittsburg, has agreed to donate the uniforms for this year’s game so players will have that keepsake. Harris said efforts like those will go a long way toward making the fundraiser meaningful for Shriners Hospitals.
“That’s why we’re doing it,” he said. “That’s why I get up in the morning. That’s why I’m so committed to this event. That’s why we’re going to try to keep seeing this thing though.”
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This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 4:30 PM with the headline "The 2020 Kansas Shrine Bowl is still set for July 18, but situation remains fluid."