Centennial Conference suspends fall sports
One of the first decisions regarding the status of college fall athletics came down Tuesday.
The Centennial Conference, which includes Ursinus College, has suspended any inter-collegiate competition for sports scheduled for the fall semester, the league announced in a statement released Tuesday. The decision will be reevaluated by the end of September by the league’s presidents, but football will not be played in the fall. There is a possibility that certain fall sports will be played in the spring instead of the fall.
“For those of us at Ursinus, this means we must prepare ourselves for a number of scenarios while simultaneously coordinating matters with Centennial Conference leadership and member colleges,” Ursinus College President Brock Blomberg and Director of Athletics Laura Moliken announced in a release Tuesday. “Most important to us, however, is the experience and well-being of the Ursinus student-athlete. College-wide decisions related to athletic activity for Ursinus will be made with the very best interests of our students in mind, and in consultation with both the athletic department and the college’s leadership.”
Ursinus’ statement said the school will take the next two weeks to determine its individual plan for the fall followed by a town hall discussion open to all current student-athletes and their families on July 23 at 7 p.m. to discuss the details of those decisions and the implications for in-season and out-of-season athletes.
“We know there continues to be a significant number of questions about intercollegiate competition and athletics in general,” the statement said. “We ask for your patience and support as we strive to learn more about today’s decision and its impact on the Ursinus community.”
The Centennial Conference is one of the first leagues to announce the suspension of its fall sports seasons. Swarthmore College announced the suspension of its fall athletic programs last week. The Ivy League announced it was cancelling fall sports Wednesday.