Big East cancels fall sports

There’s not a lot to say here. Without football to take the impact, it was hard not to see this coming a long way off. The Big East won’t be contesting any fall sports this year. Further from the release:

“The sports affected are: men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, volleyball and field hockey. Sports that are not sponsored by the BIG EAST Conference are not affected.

The fall competition for sports in their non-traditional seasons, which includes baseball, softball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s tennis, will not be held.

During the fall months, BIG EAST student-athletes will be allowed to participate in various team activities, such as practices, strength and conditioning sessions, and team meetings, consistent with individual campus policies, public health guidelines and NCAA and Conference regulations.

The BIG EAST COVID Task Force will continue to monitor COVID-19 conditions across the country and in BIG EAST communities. Decisions on winter and spring sports schedules will be made at a later time.”

There is, at the end, a faint glimmer of hope. According to Val Ackerman, “Our plans for men’s and women’s basketball and other sports are unaffected at this time.” The whole enterprise hangs on the edge of a knife, but it’s not over yet.