Below is the Centennial Conference's official statement regarding fall competition:
In response to the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centennial Conference Presidents Council has been meeting diligently to address the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and their communities. As institutions finalize their plans for the coming year, federal, state, and local health guidance, as well as institutional policies, will guide their independent decisions regarding reopening.
Given health and other related concerns, the Centennial Conference Presidents Council has decided to suspend any inter-collegiate competition for sports scheduled for the fall semester. The presidents will reevaluate this decision by the end of September, based on work to be done by the Conference to assess sports-specific activities and the experiences on the schools' campuses. The presidents have determined football will not be played in the fall. The Conference will also explore the possibility of shifting certain fall sports, including football, to the spring.
Statement from President Brock Blomberg and Director of Athletics Laura Moliken:
Dear Ursinus community,
This afternoon, the Presidents Council of the Centennial Conference announced that all intercollegiate athletic competition will be suspended for the fall semester. In coming to that difficult decision, the Presidents Council prioritized the safety and well-being of student-athletes, as well as the health of all coaches and staff, fans and the campus communities in which they compete.
However, given the uncertainty surrounding the next few months, the Presidents Council also committed to re-evaluating that decision by the end of September. It will reassess the decision based on a number of factors that may include changes to the recommended guidelines from both the CDC and the department of health within each state. The on-campus residential experience, and each college's ability to re-open its campus, will also be considered.
For those of us at Ursinus, this means we must prepare ourselves for a number of scenarios while simultaneously coordinating matters with Centennial Conference leadership and member colleges. Most important to us, however, is the experience and well-being of the Ursinus student-athlete. College-wide decisions related to athletic activity for Ursinus will be made with the very best interests of our students in mind, and in consultation with both the athletic department and the college's leadership.
In order for us to explore those possibilities and to enhance the experience of our student-athletes during such an uncertain time, we will commit the next two weeks to sorting through various details related to the decision and its impact on our student-athletes. It is our goal to communicate the implications of this decision to both our in-season and out-of-season athletes later this July.
That is why, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, Ursinus will hold a town hall discussion open to all current student-athletes and their families to discuss those details. Additional information about that town hall, including an agenda and registration link, will be sent a few days prior to the event.
We know there continues to be a significant number of questions about intercollegiate competition and athletics in general. We ask for your patience and support as we strive to learn more about today's decision and its impact on the Ursinus community.
Be well and stay healthy, Bears!
Sincerely,
President Blomberg
Director of Athletics Laura Moliken