Moon Township, Pa. – With the health and well-being of its student-athletes as its top priority, the Big South Conference announced Wednesday it is delaying its fall sports seasons, with the intent of playing in the spring. RMU, which is an associate member in the Big South in football, will move its conference football season to the spring of 2021. The decision provides flexibility to allow individual institutions to play up to four non-conference football games this fall, which RMU has opted not to pursue.
"Today's announcement by the Big South Presidents and Athletic Directors to postpone the conference football season this fall provides RMU and our conference members with additional time to determine the best, and safest, course of action moving forward," Robert Morris Vice President and Director of Athletics
Chris King said. "The presidents and athletic directors made this extremely difficult decision after extensive meetings, discussion on numerous scenarios and the consideration of many factors."
"We are all broken-hearted that we will not be able to provide competitive opportunities for Big South student-athletes this fall," Big South Commissioner
Kyle Kallander said. "However, the path forward must protect the health and safety of our student-athletes, and some of the current trends and unknowns with COVID-19 have made that a huge challenge. Our intention is to shift these fall seasons to the spring, as we would like nothing more than to crown Big South champions in all 19 of our sports this year if possible."
RMU was slated to play four non-conference games in 2020, including VMI, Bowling Green, Hawaii and Duquesne, as well as participate in a full Big South Conference schedule. The Colonials, originally planning to play as an independent in 2020, will have a chance to vie for a Big South Conference championship with the spring conference schedule in 2021.
RELATED: Big South Delays Fall Season, Targets Spring (8/12/20)
"With the excitement of playing as a first-year member of the Big South Conference, we recognize how meaningful this opportunity was for our student-athletes, our coaches and staff in competing for a conference championship in a new league," King said. "We also recognize that our student-athletes and coaches will be disappointed, but our highest priority has been, and will continue to be, the health and safety of those involved in our athletics program. Our entire department has been dedicated throughout the summer to keep our student-athletes, coaches and staff safe as they returned to campus for workouts and practice."
Big South member institutions may continue with permissible athletics activities, as defined by NCAA regulations and with the exception of fall sport competition, at their own discretion and in accordance with applicable local and state regulations and procedures.
"RMU Athletics will work directly with the Big South Conference to shift our attention and provide our student-athletes and coaches with a conference schedule and a Big South Conference championship opportunity in the spring," King said.
RMU will continue to adhere to the evolving recommendations and requirements of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local and state health guidelines, the
RMU Ready Plan, RMU Athletics Return to Campus Policy and Procedures, UPMC Sports Medicine guidelines, the NCAA Resocialization of College Sports guidelines and our respective conference's COVID-19 Advisory Panels for all practice and workout activities. RMU will continue to be guided by its top priority, which is the health, safety and well-being of student-athletes, coaches and staff.
Follow The Colonials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Snapchat | YouTube
