Northeastern University suspends 2020 fall sports
By Alex Barth, 985TheSportsHub.com
Northeastern University has elected to postpone its 2020 fall athletics schedule. Via a post on the school’s athletics website, there is now “a focus on attempting to play those sports safely in Spring 2021.”
Men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball will all have to wait to play as a precautionary measure to ensure safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The school’s release added that sports such as baseball and men’s & women’s rowing, which traditionally take part in off-season competitions, will not do so this year. However, a decision on Northeastern’s winter sports season “will be made at a later date.”
The school will still honor all scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year.
NortheasternDirector of Athletics and Recreation Jeff Konya added his statement to the release.
“The health and safety of the Northeastern community will always be the number one priority in our decision process. This is an unprecedented time in intercollegiate athletics and the decision to suspend fall competition, while difficult to make, is the decision that best aligns with that priority. We acknowledge the dedication and passion of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, and their desire to compete and represent Northeastern University to the best of their ability. This decision ensures that when we return to competition, we will do so in a safe and healthy environment.”
Northeastern’s conference, the Colonial Athletic Association, has not yet ruled on their fall schedule as a whole. Via a statement on their website Friday, the CAA said their plan right now is to allow “the unique circumstances of each of our campuses and communities to make decisions that are best for them.”
The Huskies are the third local Division I school to cancel all fall sports. Harvard (Ivy League) and Boston University (Patriot League) had their conferences suspend their fall seasons earlier this month.
In regards to Boston College, a post to their website reads, in part, “We are cautiously optimistic that there will be football played this fall.” As for their other fall sports, the ACC has tentatively pushed the start of their Olympic Sports back to Sept. 1.
