Ivy League to decide on fall sports next week

With the coronavirus crisis lingering over the fall school schedule, the Ivy League is pondering plans for sports.

TMG Sports reported this week that Ivy leaders is considering a sevengame football schedule that would begin in late September and would include only league opponents. Another possibility, according to the report, is staging a seven-game football schedule in April and May of 2021.

The league said in a statement that a decision will be made next week.

“With return to campus protocols still being developed and introduced by Ivy League institutions, the Council of Ivy League Presidents intends to announce a final decision regarding the status of intercollegiate athletic activity for the Fall Term 2020 on July 8,” the statement said. “That decision will be communicated first to Ivy League directors of athletics, coaches and student-athletes, followed by the wider Ivy League campus community, media, alumni and the public.”

The Ivy League was first college conference to cancel its basketball tournaments as the coronavirus spread in the spring. The tournament were scheduled to be played at Harvard, but the

league canceled the event on March 10 — days before other conference canceled postseason playoffs.

College administrators are formulating plans for fall sports and the decision of the Ivy League could be influential.

Yale is scheduled to open the 2020 season Sept. 19 at Holy Cross, one of three non-league games. The Bulldogs home opener is Oct. 3 against Lehigh and they also host Richmond Oct. 17.

The season will conclude Nov. 21 at Harvard for the 137th edition of The Game.

Tony Reno’s team is coming off an historic season. Yale (9-1) earned the Ivy League title and a national ranking with a stirring 50-43 double overtime win over Harvard to cap the season. The Bulldogs came back from a 19-point deficit and scored two touchdowns in the final 90 seconds to force overtime.