HERMISTON — The Hermiston Bulldogs were looking to debut their new football uniforms this season, but that plan was put on hold this week after Hermiston was pushed out of upcoming fall sports in the Mid-Columbia Conference.

“As of (Wednesday, Jan. 27), we were removed from the schedule,” Hermiston High School Athletic Director Larry Usher said.

While Hermiston has to follow COVID-19 mandates in Oregon and Washington, the biggest hurdle is the border that separates the two states.

“The Richland, Pasco and Kennewick school districts believe it’s important that they follow the state guidelines and not travel,” Usher said. “Cross-state travel is the issue.”

While Hermiston was willing to travel for all contests, its fellow MCC teams said they would not travel or host the Bulldogs. Usher said he respects their decision.

The governors of Oregon and Washington issued travel advisories in November 2020, urging against nonessential, out-of-state travel. They ask people to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving from another state or country.

The Hermiston School District reached out to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee for guidance, but have not gotten any response over the past two weeks.

“For a lack of better terms, we have been sitting and waiting for a stay of execution from the governors’ offices with no reply,” Usher said. “Inslee’s response to the WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) was that K-12 sports are recreational activities.”

That response did not sit well with football coach David Faaeteete.

“He is basically saying high school athletes and their efforts are in line with beer league softball,” he said. “The hardest thing is to tell these seniors no again.”

The fall season for the Bulldogs includes football, volleyball, cross-country, swim and dive, girls soccer and slow pitch softball.

Umatilla County was put on another two-week stay in the “extreme risk” category on Tuesday, Jan. 26, according to the Oregon Health Authority. The Bulldogs are not allowed to hold practices for football and volleyball while the county is in extreme risk.

“Essentially, no matter what people’s politics are, to get students back in the classroom and back to sports, we need to get the (COVID) numbers down,” Usher said. “We are coming up on a year now. People who have never participated in school athletics don’t realize what has been taken from our kids.”

Usher said Hermiston still is planning on participating in spring sports, which are scheduled to begin pre-contest practices March 15, with the season ending May 1.

“We are planning to compete in the MCC going forward,” Usher said. “Whenever that might be.”

Looking ahead

With competition in the MCC on hold, Usher said he is looking for alternatives for his coaches and athletes — in Washington and Oregon.

“We are trying to find options for kids,” he said. “We are willing to travel.”

Cross-country is one sport that is considered low risk, and Hermiston coach Troy Blackburn is hopeful his runners can get in a few races.

“If they can’t do anything, the only thing it will do is hurt the kids,” he said. “That is unacceptable. We need to find something so they can enjoy life again. It’s all about the kids. Larry is not giving up.”

Faaeteete said the disappointing fact is most states have allowed fall sports, whether they were on schedule or delayed. Oregon, along with Washington, California and a couple others, have not.

“Sports build character and the kids learn life lessons,” he said. “I feel for all the guys who are seniors. Where is their silver lining? Sports is their only reprieve from sitting in front of a computer screen. You should see their faces when they come to work out. You can see the smile in their eyes.”