The Southwestern Athletic Conference has held off fall sports competition and champions because of the coronavirus pandemic, and it has actually started strategies to push the fall schedule to the 2021 spring term, according to a declaration provided to ESPN on Monday.
The plans for football include a seven-game conference schedule that begins with an eight-week training duration in January, 2021. SWAC commissioner Charles McClelland said video games would begin near the end of February or the beginning of March. Each school will play 6 conference video games (four divisional/two non-divisional) with the choice to play one nonconference video game.
While numerous other conferences also have held off fall sports, consisting of the Ivy League, Patriot League, MEAC, A-10 and CAA, none have revealed strategies for the spring as specific as the SWAC, which has led all FCS conferences in attendance for 42 of the past 43 seasons. Jackson State led the FCS in participation with more than 30,000 per video game.
” We desired our fans to have something to look forward to,” McClelland said. “We wanted our student-athletes to have something to anticipate, and we seem like this is a sustainable plan that will enable us to be able to get it done, and get it done from a realistic standpoint.”
Still, McClelland said all conference choices will continue to be assisted by the status of the pandemic– which suggests spring video games still might not take place.
The geographic footprint of the SWAC, situated in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, has seen a continued increase of COVID-19 cases in a number of those states. That played a significant function in the SWAC council of chancellors and presidents choice to move the fall schedule to the spring. The choice also was made because of data that recommends African American neighborhoods have actually been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
” If there is no vaccine, if the numbers are still high, there wont be a spring,” McClelland said. “Were not going to require playing. All of this is asserted on the truth the pandemic by March is under control.”
Details about the Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Championship video game will be launched at a later date, together with scheduling information for ladiess soccer, womens volley ball, and mens and womens cross country. According to the SWAC, the student-athletes still can take part in conditioning, strength training and practices in all sports– supplied all regional, state and federal health and wellness guidelines are satisfied.
The SWAC and MEAC generally take part in the Celebration Bowl, which honors the tradition and customs of historically Black colleges and universities, instead of the FCS champion. Last week, the MEAC revealed it delayed fall sports.
” Well be reaching out to the MEAC and the constituents with the Celebration Bowl to see if we cant get something reenergized,” McClelland stated. “We would enjoy to play the Celebration Bowl and well work with our partners to see if that can become a truth.”
There have actually been no decisions made relating to schedules for the leagues winter season sports.
The plans for football consist of a seven-game conference schedule that begins with an eight-week training duration in January, 2021. SWAC commissioner Charles McClelland stated video games would start near the end of February or the start of March. Each school will play 6 conference games (four divisional/two non-divisional) with the choice to play one nonconference game.
That played a considerable function in the SWAC council of chancellors and presidents choice to move the fall schedule to the spring.
