Delay of games: MWC sets Sept. 26 starts
Football teams to play 10 games, eight in league
The University of New Mexico had been promoting the football season opener for Aug. 29.
But like so many changes during this time of dealing with COVID-19 concerns, slowing the spread and myriad restrictions, the Lobos will have a new date, yet still with some uncertainty. They can begin competition no sooner than the week of Sept. 26 per an announcement from the Mountain West Conference.
The Mountain West Board of Directors agreed Wednesday on an adjusted 2020 fall sports structure for football, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country in reaction to ongoing COVID-19 developments.
All member football schools will play eight league games and two nonconference games, with the league championship game set vaguely for either Dec. 5, 12, or 19.
Women’s soccer, volleyball (women) and cross country (men and women) also may begin competition no sooner than the week of Sept. 26, and the competition will consist of conference-only play. Women’s soccer and women’s volleyball champions will be determined by regular-season competition, while options for cross country continue to be reviewed.
Meanwhile, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last month directed leadership at the state’s public universities to cancel all fall sports, given the ongoing public health dan
gers. UNM and New Mexico State have not done so, however. A Journal message left for a spokesperson in the governor’s office late Wednesday regarding the Mountain West’s actions went unreturned.
UNM athletic director Eddie Nuñez would not comment to the Journal, referring only to what he said in a statement provided by the school. It read:
“This framework allows us time to ensure we have the best possible health and safety protocols in place to allow our student-athletes a safe environment to compete. We will continue to work with local authorities and the Governor’s office to stay within the guidelines put in place to keep the community safe. The safety of our student-athletes and our community is our top priority.”
Schedules for all sports are being redone, the league announced.
All fall competition in the sports of men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, swimming and diving, has been canceled, as it has for non-fall sports indoor track, softball and baseball. Continuation of workouts/training would be subject to NCAA legislation and guidance; state, local and campus parameters; and institutional determination.
Golf and tennis players will remain eligible to compete unattached at institutional discretion and in accordance with NCAA regulations.
The league says its revised fall sports plan “will align with the requirements announced (Wednesday) by the NCAA Board of Governors. It will also continue to be evaluated in the context of the virus status on member institution campuses and within the respective communities, and will be subject to directives from local, state and federal leaders. Should further modifications become necessary, including delay or cancellation of competition, the (MWC board) is prepared to do so.”
“I just hope we get an opportunity to play ball,” said Danny Gonzales, the UNM alumnus in his first year as Lobo football head coach. “… (T)hat’s my hope right now: that they determine it’s safe and we can play ball.”
Gonzales is also hoping the Lobos will still play against NMSU, as one of its two non-conference games.
The Mountain West’s action came on the same day the NCAA Board of Governors directed each division of the association to decide independently by Aug. 21 whether it will be able to safely conduct championship events in fall sports. Within hours of the board’s announcement, presidents councils from both Division II and III canceled fall sports championships and determined they will not be made up in the spring.