Big East cancels fall sports season
NEW YORK (BVM) — The Big East has become the next domino to fall in the cancellation of the fall sports season. On Aug. 12, the Big East decided that the risk was too great to continue on with its season.
The Big East follows the Big Ten and the Pac-12 as the most recent conferences to cancel its fall sports season.
In a press release, Chair of the Big East Board of Directors, Rev. Peter M. Donohue, shared some insight into their decision process.
“The decision to not hold fall sports competition was not made lightly,” Donohue said. “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.”
With football not being a sport played in the Big East, the conference’s impacted fall sports consist of: men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, volleyball and field hockey. The Big East kept the door open for a future date and will look into the spring of 2021 to continue its missed fall sports season.
Big East commissioner, Val Ackerman, pointed to specifics such as the unknowns surrounding testing availability for its athletes, as a focal point for the cancellation.
“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,” Ackerman said. “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.”
The 11 universities that make up the Big East consist of Butler University, University of Connecticut, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University, and Xavier University.
Although the Big East won’t be playing any games, teams will still be able to participate in practices, strength and conditioning sessions, and team meetings.
