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Some medium-sized news came out today as the BIG EAST announced they are cancelling non-conference schedules for fall sports, including men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, volleyball and field hockey.
The defending National Champion Men’s Soccer team, as well as the other fall sports teams, will have to adapt to an abridged and/or delayed schedules. Announced last week, Patriot League football has been cancelled but options for a spring football season are still “on the table.”
Georgetown Hoyas Basketball is untouched for now, but it feels like it’s only a matter of time before a similar “conference-only” and/or “delay until 2021” announcement is released.
What does today's news mean? The Big East is continuing to take a wait-and-see approach with the fall. Going to conference-only competition was no-brainer, and falls into line with what other leagues have done in attempts to find uniformity with testing protocols and guidelines.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) July 16, 2020
“The BIG EAST’s plans for the 2020-21 winter and spring sports seasons remain unaffected at this time.”
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) July 16, 2020
Commissioner Val Ackerman said in May that decisions on basketball would likely not have to be made until around Labor Day. https://t.co/N24eI3HXGk
ESPN and The Athletic reported changes to the schedule moments prior to the BIG EAST press release, highlighting the wait-and-see and kick-the-can thought process, yet also indicating delays to the seasons were possible.
BIG EAST Update on Fall Sports Plans
NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Conference and its member institutions have announced updated plans for their six 2020 fall sports, as follows:
Due to the unprecedented and continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, BIG EAST fall sports schedules will not include any non-conference competition.
No decision is being made at this time regarding BIG EAST fall sports conference competition and championships. In the coming weeks, the BIG EAST will continue to monitor COVID-19 conditions across the country and in BIG EAST communities and will provide further updates on dates and formats as appropriate. All decisions regarding fall conference competition will continue to be guided first and foremost by the health and safety of BIG EAST campuses and their athletics program participants and will be made in accordance with NCAA actions and policies.
The sports affected are: men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, volleyball and field hockey. The BIG EAST’s plans for the 2020-21 winter and spring sports seasons remain unaffected at this time.
UPDATE: A letter from GU Athletic Director Lee Reed included the press release and noted that:
Georgetown will continue to work closely with the BIG EAST and the NCAA regarding the status of fall athletics. Coaches of fall sports have calls with their teams today. For updated campus information, please refer to Georgetown’s Fall 2020 Plan. I ask that you stay safe and know that we are all in this together. Thank you for your continued patience.