HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
No Result
View All Result
Home Football

The coronavirus has taken over Florida Memorial’s athletic program. The best response is to stop playing

Kendrick Marshall by Kendrick Marshall
October 15, 2020
0
Florida Memorial football helmet

Photo: FMU Athletics

312
VIEWS

The coronavirus is no respecter of people, status, or the beast that is college football.

COVID-19, the novel virus that has disrupted societies all around the world, is the biggest bully on the block.

Florida Memorial University has been turned upside down, battered and stuffed into a locker by the disease.

After embarking on an attempt to become the only HBCU to hold athletic events during the middle of a pandemic, FMU is now in crisis.

The school recently announced that it has postponed all sporting events because of COVID-19 issues, including canceling the season for its soccer and volleyball programs.

It gets worse.

Four coaches were either suspended or resigned due to the fallout of their mishandling of the virus’ impact on the programs they helped lead.

The moves come on the heels of athletes in several sports alleging the school ignored a widespread coronavirus outbreak within the athletic department.

Athletic director Earnest Jones denied that report, saying that FMU has diligently followed CDC safety protocols and infection reporting guidelines.

“I would be a terrible leader if we didn’t follow them,” Jones told HBCU Sports last week. “We are living in a national pandemic right now. We believe in transparency and the health and wellness of our student-athletes.”

The football program was able to play the first half of its schedule without disruption. However, the Lions have since postponed two games amid reports of COVID-19 issues.

College sports have learned a hard lesson that without the confinement of a protected bubble that housed the NBA, NHL, MLS and WNBA the virus will find its way in despite whatever precautions are in place.

As of Wednesday, 10 percent of all FBS games have either been postponed or canceled because of COVID-19 concerns.

The virus has penetrated every program from Georgia Southern to Alabama. It has impacted governors, law enforcement, health care institutions and even the White House. It is no surprise that a small college in Florida did not get out unscathed.

The right thing now would be for Florida Memorial to relent while they’re behind and cease all operations until it safe and feasible to do so for the sake of everyone. They’re no longer in control. The coronavirus is as long as there is no vaccine or silver bullet cure to make sports less risky.

Tags: Florida Memorial
Kendrick Marshall

Kendrick Marshall

Kendrick Marshall is an award-winning journalist and a graduate of Jackson State University.

Related Posts

South Carolina State football schedule: How many games will the Bulldogs win?

by HBCU Sports
May 14, 2025
0
Here are the South Carolina State Bulldogs 2024 game-by-game predictions

Coming off a dominant 2024 campaign that saw South Carolina State capture the MEAC championship,  expectations for the Bulldogs in the second season under Chennis Berry are high....

Read moreDetails

Undrafted HBCU defensive playmaker signs NFL contract after rookie minicamp

by Kendrick Marshall
May 13, 2025
0
Morgan State football player and Baltimore-area bank collaborate on NIL deal

The Minnesota Vikings officially announced Monday the signing of defensive lineman Elijah Williams, a standout from Morgan State University, after he impressed coaches during the team’s rookie minicamp....

Read moreDetails

Santonio Holmes, former Super Bowl MVP, joins HBCU football coaching staff

by Chris Stevens
May 12, 2025
0
Santonio Holmes, former Super Bowl MVP, joins HBCU football coaching staff

A former Super Bowl MVP will be trusted with developing an HBCU football team's receiving core. Santonio Holmes, MVP of Super Bowl XLIII for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was...

Read moreDetails

SWAC football power rankings 2025: Post-spring look at all 12 teams

by HBCU Sports
May 12, 2025
1
Jackson State QB named SWAC Newcomer of Week after first college start in three years

Spring football gives way to fall optimism, and the Southwestern Athletic Conference landscape for 2025 is taking shape. The conference remains fiercely competitive, with perennial powers and emerging...

Read moreDetails

Top SWAC running back transfers to 2024 FCS playoff team

by Chris Stevens
May 9, 2025
0
Kendric Rhymes HBCU

As HBCU football teams continue to shape their rosters, a defending conference champion has added a key contributor from the SWAC. Kendric Rhymes, the second-leading rusher for SWAC...

Read moreDetails
Next Post
Dillard basketball set to host sixth annual Bleu and White game

Dillard basketball set to host sixth annual Bleu and White game

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe

RSS HBCU Sports Forums

  • The 22nd thread about *rump
  • 2025 Transfer Portal 2 (Juco Included)
  • FCS moving toward 12-game regular seasons beginning in 2026
  • Diddy Trial
  • Katy ISD $72 Million Dollar High School Stadium
  • Charles Edmonds Interview w/ SWAC Commissoner Dr Charles McClelland
  • Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee V!!!! 😂
  • The SWAC’s worst nightmare is about to come true.
  • Southern....
  • Prayers for Alpha72

  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • COMMENT POLICY
  • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
 CONTACT US

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

No Result
View All Result
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

X