First Call: Even more tests before Steelers-Ravens can be played, status of Baltimore RBs still shaky

For Wednesday’s “First Call,” the Steelers-Ravens game is still on but also still in doubt. The only thing funnier than the Steelers Twitter account are the NFL coronavirus protocols. Notre Dame is already in the ACC title game. And a good start doesn’t result in a good finish for RMU hockey.

Don’t count your Ravens before they are hatched

The Steelers-Ravens game is “all systems go” for Wednesday afternoon.

For now.

That doesn’t mean things won’t change between the time you read this post and the bizarre 3:40 p.m. kickoff time for the thrice-delayed AFC North showdown.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano says more tests for Baltimore will be administered before the team is allowed to take the field.

Ravens will be tested again Wednesday before the game. These will be rapid-result, point-of-care tests. It is not out of the question that positive results from Wednesday's round of testing could lead to further postponement. As of now, game is still on for 3:40 pm ET. Stay tuned

— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) December 2, 2020

Now, if you read that and the first thing that went through your mind was, “A couple of false positives could throw off the whole thing,” well, yes.

With the lack of reliability of those rapid tests many of us have encountered for ourselves or through people we know, I thought the same thing.

So if the game is scrubbed again, I expect one of two things will happen:

1. The NFL will create a Week 18

Or

2. The NFL will create an eighth day of the week between Wednesday and Thursday and name it “Thurnesday.”

Then Steelers-Ravens will be rescheduled for “Thurnesday” at 10:27 a.m. Mountain Time.

Have a little fun with it

No doubt that the Steelers have been frustrated by all of the delays to their game against the Ravens.

But that didn’t stop the team’s Twitter account from having a little fun despite the uncertainty and the odd Wednesday afternoon start time.

This will work*

(* might not work)#HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/dbPC2dlr8z

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 1, 2020

Unfortunately, Baltimore’s J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram did end up getting doctor’s notes from the league. So they will be able to play Wednesday. Stephon Tuitt and James Conner did not. So they are out.

Good times.

But, as the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports, just because they are allowed in pads, doesn’t mean Dobbins and Ingram will actually play.

#Ravens RBs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram are both eligible to be activated Wednesday, but it's not a given either will play. They've been isolated since testing positive Nov. 22 and, as noted earlier, aren't allowed to fly on the team plane tonight. https://t.co/mUweyW8OyT

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 1, 2020

How about that? The NFL won’t allow those two to fly on the team plane Tuesday night. But they could be allowed in uniform by Wednesday morning.

What a joke the NFL protocols are.

Irish eyes are smiling

Steelers-Ravens isn’t the only coronavirus scheduling debacle afoot.

So is college football. All of it.

Just look at the ACC. Where Notre Dame managed to secure a spot in the ACC title game by virtue of a league decision, more so than clinching anything on the field.

It’s essentially a formality. Notre Dame was all but a lock to be one of the two teams in the conference title game. But because of some scheduling machinations, the Fighting Irish are in for sure now.

I’ll leave it to ESPN.com’s Andrea Adelson to explain.

“The Irish had been scheduled to play Wake Forest, while the (Clemson) Tigers did not have a game scheduled for that day. Though Florida State wanted to play Clemson on Dec. 12 after their game was postponed, the Tigers did not want to go back to Tallahassee to play. As a result, the ACC decided it would evaluate the three teams in contention for the championship game — Notre Dame, Clemson and Miami — on a nine-game conference schedule.

“Because the Irish hold all tiebreakers, they secured their spot in the game. Notre Dame, which is playing as an ACC football member for this season only, plays Syracuse on Saturday. If Clemson beats Virginia Tech on Saturday, it would secure its spot in the ACC championship game. If Clemson, Notre Dame or Miami cannot play this weekend, the ACC has the option to reschedule games on Dec. 12, as needed.”

Confused? Me, too. But let’s just say that the fait accompli of a Notre Dame-versus-Clemson rematch in the ACC title game appears to be on course.

Better luck next time?

Things couldn’t have started better for the Robert Morris Colonials hockey team Tuesday night at Clearview Arena.

They jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period against 18^th-ranked Bowling Green, courtesy of goals from Randy Hernandez and Justin Adamo.

They don't get much prettier than that! @hernandezrandyy #RMUnite pic.twitter.com/ii83ZqneQm

— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) December 2, 2020

??MAKE IT 2-0! ADDAMO! pic.twitter.com/injm1SWrFP

— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) December 2, 2020

But the Falcons stormed back with four goals in a row and ended up winning 6-3. The loss dropped the Colonials to 3-2. BGSU improved to 3-0. The two teams play again on Dec. 29.

RMU heads out to Colorado to play Air Force Friday and Saturday.