BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced the
postponement of all scheduled fall contests along with SWAC championships due
to continuing concerns related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
“I am heartbroken that our student-athletes will not get a chance to compete this fall, as they have put in countless hours getting ready for their seasons.” “The health and safety of our student-athletes is of the utmost importance and as athletic administrators our top goal is student-athlete welfare. We must continue to do our part and practice the safety guidelines set forth by the CDC, and our Return to Play plan so that we can come back stronger and healthier at the turn of the calendar year.”
“Though we are not getting the outcome we set out for since the onset of these perilous times, there are still some things that we can be proud of, the determination and fighting spirit displayed in the classroom, in your communities and in the hearts of Hornets everywhere has not gone unnoticed. It is still a great time to be a Hornet!”
Alabama State University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jennifer Lynne Williams
The fall sports impacted
include men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s soccer and women’s
volleyball. The conference has started the process of formalizing plans to
conduct a competitive schedule for the fall sports during the 2021 spring
semester.
Specifically, in the
sport of football the plan includes a seven-game conference schedule beginning
with an eight-week training period in January 2021. Each member institution
will play a total of six conference games (four divisional/two non-divisional)
with the option to play one non-conference game.
Additional details
regarding scheduling for women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s
cross country along with the Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Championship game
will be released at a later date.
Fall sports teams and
student-athletes will have the opportunity to attend classes and practices in
preparation for a spring 2021 competitive schedule upon return to campus.
Student-athletes will have the ability to participate in conditioning, strength
training and practices in all sports provided all required local, state, and
federal health and safety guidelines are met. There have been no final
decisions made regarding competitive schedules for the league’s winter sports
at this time.
The SWAC Council of
Presidents and Chancellors felt this action was necessary out of growing
concern for the health, safety and well-being both mentally and physically of
our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, team staff, campus faculty, fans
and supporters.
The continued increase
of COVID-19 cases across many portions of the league’s geographic footprint and
Southern regions of the country played a significant role in the council’s
decision, along with data that suggests African-American communities have been
disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SWAC shares in the
disappointment that will undoubtedly be felt by student-athletes, fans, and
supporters impacted by the postponement of fall sports competition. The league
will continue to review appropriate measures to ensure the health, safety and
well-being of student-athletes, coaches, administrators and the local community
which continues to be the primary responsibility of the Southwestern Athletic
Conference and its member institutions.
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