Big East Calls Off Fall Sports For 2020

STORRS, CT — The University of Connecticut will have to wait to get back into Big East play. Citing "the unprecedented and continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," the conference announced Wednesday that fall sports have been called off for 2020.

Conference officials added they "will assess alternative options" to stage fall sports during the spring of 2021.

The independent UConn football program had already shelved the season for the same reasons. The Pac-12 and Big Ten conferences have made similar moves.

According to the announcement, the decision was made in consultation with the Big East COVID-19 Task Force, an intra-conference medical advisory group that includes administrators, doctors, athletic trainers, student-athletes and national experts in global pandemics and infectious diseases.

"The decision to not hold fall sports competition was not made lightly," said the Rev. Peter Donahue, the chairman of the Big East Board of Directors and Villanova University's president. "Athletics play an integral role in the student, alumni and fan experience at each of our institutions, and we were all hoping to allow the fall seasons to move forward. However, given the guidance of the Big East COVID-19 Task Force, this decision, while disappointing, was made with the health and safety of our student-athletes and staff in mind. The well-being of our community members are, and will continue to be, our priority and focus."

Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman added, "This very difficult decision came after an exhaustive review by our Presidents and Athletics Directors and followed consideration of NCAA guidance, COVID-19 case counts and trend lines nationally and in BIG EAST communities, and the many unknowns surrounding testing availability, turnaround time and travel restrictions in our 11 locales. We take pride in the high-level competition and experiences we provide to our fall sports student-athletes, and we share their deep disappointment that this will not be a normal year. Our plans for men's and women's basketball and other sports are unaffected at this time."

UConn Athletic Director David Benedict said he supports the "difficult, but necessary decision."

He added, "Our student-athletes take great pride in competing but, in speaking to many of them in last several days, I know they understand this decision was made with their health and well-being at top of mind. We remain committed to providing a world-class academic and athletic experience to all our student-athletes while also ensuring a safe and supportive environment on campus."

Here are the particulars:

• The sports affected are: men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, volleyball and field hockey.
• Sports not sponsored by the Big East Conference are not affected.
• Fall competition for sports in their non-traditional seasons — baseball, softball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse and men's and women's tennis, will not take place
• During the fall months, student-athletes will be allowed to participate in various team activities, such as practices, strength and conditioning sessions, and team meetings, consistent with individual campus policies, public health guidelines and NCAA and Conference regulations.

• The BIG EAST COVID Task Force will continue to monitor COVID-19 conditions across the country and in BIG EAST communities.
• Decisions on winter and spring sports schedules will be made at a later time.
• The Conference will assess alternative options to stage fall sports contests during the spring of 2021

Conversely, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference said Wednesday that football — and all fall sports — would go on.