UConn ends remainder of its spring schedule

Days as a member of AAC come to an end

The UConn athletic department announced Monday morning that it has canceled the remainder of its spring sports season, the Huskies' final go around in the American Athletic Conference.

Late late week, the school suspended all activity immediately. Recent developments in the rapidly changing situation involving the coronavirus pandemic convinced UConn to take the next step and end the spring season.

"As with everything else that's been related to this coronavirus situation, things have been so fluid," athletic director David Benedict said during a conference call. "We're constantly getting new recommendations from the CDC, from the governor's office, from the federal government, and we're just reacting.

"... Ultimately, I don't want to tell you that decision was made for us, but if you look at the most recent recommendations from the CDC about no gatherings of more than 50, and I think that has changed somewhat today.

"So it's just been something that we've been thinking about constantly since Friday. And ultimately we got to the place (Monday) morning in consulting with a lot of different folks, both on campus and off campus, our coaches, that the best thing to do was to cancel spring sports."

The AAC also announced on Monday that it had canceled the athletic competition for the rest of the spring season.

Four spring teams had already started their seasons.

The baseball team, which was scheduled to play in its new stadium — Elliot Ballpark — on March 29 against Seton Hall, was 8-5 and scheduled to open AAC play on Friday at Cincinnati; the softball team was 16-5 and set to begin AAC play on Friday at Tulsa; the women's lacrosse team was 5-2 and the golf team had played tournaments in Arizona and Florida.

The men's and women's outdoor track and field teams had yet to begin their seasons.

"We're all hurting right now as competitors not being able to com

plete a season no matter how much was left," baseball coach Jim Penders said. "It's just a weird hurt. A really weird hurt."

Penders and his Huskies were holding out hope that the season would resume. Benedict reached out to Penders and other UConn coaches on Monday morning.

When news broke, Penders contacted his players via text and phone. He had some tough conversations.

"We never took a team picture together," Penders said. "That's a bummer. It's like it never really existed. Just when it was starting to get going, it had to stop. Their season was ripped away and they handled it like men. But it's very difficult, even for a 48-year man to digest. I can't imagine what they're going through as competitors."

Both Penders and Benedict especially feel for the senior student-athletes.

Those veteran Huskies are dealing with the extra loss of their careers ending at UConn. The baseball team's seniors gathered off-campus to support each other during this difficult time.

"This is really tough for the student-athletes," Benedict said. "Some of our student-athletes have worked their entire careers to put themselves in the positions that they're in, whether it's some of our winter sports getting ready to play for conference championships and NCAA championships, and now the spring sports getting in about 20 percent of their season. That's who it's really hard for.

"Can't imagine what some of them are feeling like having a season taken away. It's immeasurable. I can only think back to when I was competing, if I had lost my last year, how that would have made me feel . ... This is devastating and I'm sure a shock to all of them."

The NCAA is discussing granting senior spring athletes another year of eligibility. Details still need to be worked out.

Benedict is in favor of that happening.

"My guess is, there is going to be some type of modification to some of our legislation that's going to provide eligibility," Benedict said. "I'm supportive of it . ... I think that's the right thing and appropriate thing to do.

"How does it work? Now are you in a situation where you have more scholarships committed than what the current legislation allows for? Those things will all be worked out."

g.keefe@theday.com