Monarchs won’t play football until fall 2021
ODU is one of three FBS teams not in action
NORFOLK — Old Dominion’s postponement of football until the spring became an outright cancellation Friday.
The school announced what it called a “difficult decision” to cancel the sport altogether until the fall of 2021.
The Monarchs are Conference USA’s lone team opting out of football season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the MidAmerican Conference’s announcement Friday that it will play, ODU is one of three FBS programs not playing this fall, joining Connecticut and New Mexico State.
ODU athletic director Wood Selig, who last week stood by the school’s August decision to postpone after other FBS conferences changed course and decided to play football this fall, declined to comment through a school spokesman.
Other fall sports at ODU will be played in the spring.
“We remain committed to this decision with the health and safety of the student-athletes, their families, coaches, our fans and the community as the priority,” the school said in a statement.
ODU’s football team has been holding twice-weekly drills and lifting weights three days a week. Selig said recently that the school stands to lose about $2-3 million without football this year.
The pandemic has brought trying times to the entire athletic department.
“One of my biggest challenges professionally has been to try and support our coaches and our studentathletes and give them hope and encouragement,” Selig said.