UMass is canceling its fall football season, the school revealed Tuesday.
An FBS independent, UMass may attempt to play a season this spring, athletic director Ryan Bamford stated.
” The continuing difficulties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic postured undue of a danger, and we reached the conclusion that trying to play a season would not have actually put the members of our program in the most safe scenario possible,” Bamford stated in a declaration.
” … These times have provided us with extensive uncertainty, and we are disappointed for all the members of our fall sports programs who will not have the opportunity to contend this fall. We stay enthusiastic and completely intend to conduct a competitive schedule for our fall sports in the 2021 spring semester.”
1 RelatedTuesdays decision to cancel the fall season follows a comparable move by UConn, which last Wednesday became the first FBS program to call off its fall football season. UMass and UConn had been set to open the season versus each other Sept. 3.
UMass held a team conference Tuesday early morning to inform players of the decision, a source said. The Minutemen had actually been set to open the season in your home Sept. 12 against Troy.
UMass coach Walt Bell said he was “definitely sad” for his fans and players, and he issued a statement on Twitter after the schools decision.
” For most of players and coaches in our program, this will be the first fall without football given that they could run on 2 feet,” Bell stated. “Our gamers have done an unbelievable task battling through unbelievable hardship since Friday, March 13th. This group is resilient! Contrary to common belief, this generation is difficult! Our players have actually battled the pandemic, a completely brand-new scholastic environment, social and civil unrest, racism, food insolubility, moms and dads being laid off and furloughed, and even harder for youths– the unknown.
” Throughout this whole procedure, our players have actually been exceptionally invested. Our UMass Football moms and dads have been incredibly comprehending and encouraging also. The future of UMass Football is going to be special.”
Bell said that, as of Monday, out of 733 tests for COVID-19, there was just been one positive test– with the outcomes of 125 tests taken Monday still to be figured out.
Two FBS independents and two leagues, the Mid-American and Mountain West, have chosen not to play a fall football season. Decisions might come later Tuesday from the Big Ten, Pac-12 and other conferences.
UMass joined the FBS in 2012 as a member of the Mid-American Conference however left the league following the 2015 season and became independent in football. The majority of UMass teams contend in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
… These times have actually provided us with extensive unpredictability, and we are disappointed for all the members of our fall sports programs who will not have the opportunity to contend this autumn.” For the bulk of gamers and coaches in our program, this will be the very first fall without football considering that they could run on 2 feet,” Bell stated. Our UMass Football parents have actually been extremely comprehending and supportive. The future of UMass Football is going to be unique.”
