With the sports season on hold, Meade stadium will face a quiet fall semester. Photo by James McIntosh.
It feels good to have the Cigar banner at the top of this page.
Being able to be on campus for the last week obviously isn’t the same as it has been in the past. The walkways are less busy, the buildings a little bit quieter and the parking situation is actually decent. We really are in strange times.
But thankfully, as we try to navigate what the University looks like in the fall of 2020, The Good Five Cent Cigar is still active. The paper has done an incredible job up to this point with reporting on COVID-19-related issues, especially after we all got sent home without knowing what was going to happen next. I’m proud to be a part of this paper, and we will continue to tell the stories and news that the URI community needs, and deserves, to hear.
Today should have marked the first time our newspapers flood the school and other neighboring communities. Physical copies start next week, but that feeling of holding a newspaper will have to wait one more week. It isn’t the only thing that will have to wait.
As you know by now, live sports games are on hold at the University of Rhode Island. There are no September night games to cherish at Meade Stadium or perfectly cut grass at the URI Soccer Complex to admire. There are no bands to wake students up too early on Saturday morning or sunrises to take in when getting ready for practice. We won’t be able to hear the sneaker squeaks at press row from the Ryan Center or try to fight the wind at the URI Softball Complex.
Even without that though, the Cigar is still here. The Cigar sports department is still here. This window of inactivity will not stop us from sharing the amazing and diverse stories that students, athletes, coaches and administrators have in a safe and COVID-friendly manner. We have been roaring to go since receiving word we will be back on campus, and the game plan for the semester is exciting.
Maybe not exciting enough to produce three NFL players or an All-American running star, but pretty close.
When I got the position of sports editor, it was an honor to receive the recognition. I have been, and continue to be, surrounded by dedicated student reporters who work hard and do quality work. To lead the sports department is a responsibility I do not take for granted.
I thought it would be a little bit different to what we are doing now, but just because you have a gameplan doesn’t mean adjustments aren’t needed.
The Cigar is ready. The University of Rhode Island is ready. Please wear a mask and physically distance yourself when possible so we never have to go through this again.
Let’s get to work.