By Derrian Carter
CO-SPORTS EDITOR
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) announced this summer that it is continuing to suspend all sports and championship events through fall 2020. Its suspension of all sports and championship events through the Fall of 2020.
CAU’s president and SIAC Council of President’s Chairman George T. French Jr. released a statement on the decision to continue the suspension. “The decision to extend the SIAC suspension into the Fall of 2020 was guided by the prevailing data, science, as well as current coronavirus infection trajectories. In light of these very difficult realities, and in the context of the overarching priority of all of my colleague SIAC presidents to protect the health, wellness and safety of all of our students and staff, we are confident that the decision announced today is consistent with those fundamental health and safety priorities,” he said.
Questions began to rise from athletes and fans about whether they would be able to maintain their eligibility despite not playing. Regarding the matter, SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore said, “The action taken by our conference to suspend fall sports was informed by a core desire on the part of our SIAC member institutions to make every effort to protect and mitigate COVID-19 related health and safety risk exposure to our students, coaches and staff during this uncertain and unpredictable environment. It is our intention to seek eligibility relief for those student-athletes impacted by this interruption similar to that relief which was accorded to 2020 spring sport student-athletes whose seasons were interrupted during the early stages of the Covid-19 outbreak.”
Another question that arose is whether fall sports, like football, will be played in the spring. The SIAC and The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) conference released a joint statement regarding this issue.
“The CIAA and SIAC both appreciate and understand the significant impact that today’s announcements had in regard to the status of 2020 fall sports. Both the CIAA and SIAC enjoy athletic related events, traditions and rivalries that date back over 100 years. However, in light of the increased health and safety risks confronting much of the country, today the CIAA and SIAC affirm that the welfare of our student-athletes is sacrosanct and must preempt all other considerations when evaluating any return to competition efforts,” the statement said.
The earliest fans, athletes and coaches will see sports played at Clark Atlanta University will be next year.
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