In response to online speculation that it would be canceling the remainder of the 2020 fall sports season, the SIAC announced Thursday that the league is still evaluating what steps to take regarding the resumption of athletics in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a brief statement released Thursday afternoon, the conference said “no formal or final decisions have been made” about the status of the upcoming fall calendar.
“As a responsible intercollegiate sport sponsoring institution, the SIAC will continue to evaluate the feasibility of close-contact athletic competition amid the national pandemic,” the statement said.
The conference indicated that the SIAC and member institution Council of Presidents continue to monitor national, regional and health guidelines in determining whether athletic competitions can be safely held during the current coronavirus pandemic.
The direction the conference might take has been closely examined after Morehouse College decided to cancel its fall sports seasons, including football, over COVID-19 concerns.
George T. French, the president at Clark Atlanta, told Sports Illustrated that Morehouse deciding to back out of the fall sports season would have an impact on the rest of the conference.
French said the conference is expected to make a ruling on the 2020 season within the coming week.
“It doesn’t make sense to me to have a football season this year—for any school—with the virus rates going up,” he said.
