The MAC cancels all fall sports
The Mid-American Conference on Saturday became the first league at college football’s highest level to cancel its fall season because of the pandemic.
“I’m heartbroken we are in this place,” MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said.
With the MAC’s 12 schools facing a significant financial burden by trying to maintain costly coronavirus protocols, and the uncertainty that campuses can be opened safely, the conference’s university presidents canceled all fall sports — including soccer and volleyball — and said they would explore making them up in the spring season.
A move to the spring, however, could also prove costly without revenue generated by football media rights deals and ticket sales.
“It would be naive to say that you don’t give thought and consideration to what the financial ramifications or any decision are, but this was a health and well-being decision first and foremost,” Steinbrecher said. “As we sit here today we don’t know what this will mean financially and how the rest of the fall plays out.”
He added the decision was unanimous among the membership.
“It’s a bitter one, but we believe it’s the right one based on the medical advice we’ve been getting from our medical advisory board,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Big Ten is tapping the brakes on football’s preseason, telling its schools that until further notice full contact practices cannot begin. The conference announced Saturday all teams will remain in the first two days of what is known as the “acclimatization period,” working out in just helmets. The Big Ten regular season is scheduled to start Sept. 5.
“We understand there are many questions regarding how this impacts schedules, as well as the feasibility of proceeding forward with the season at all,” the conference said in a statement. “As we have consistently stated, we will continue to evaluate daily, while relying on our medical experts, to make the best decisions possible for the health, safety and wellness of our studentathletes.”