On Tuesday, September 8, 2020, the University of Nevada updated its status concerning the postponement of its fall sports and Mountain West championship events.
On its website, the University posted:
The August 10 decision by the Mountain West Board of Directors to postpone 2020 fall sports and MW championship events due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis was based upon multiple challenges. Widespread and increasing prevalence of the disease in parts of the MW footprint, unknowns regarding the health outcomes related to the virus, testing capacity limitations and variable travel restrictions were among the primary considerations. Nearly a month later many of these same challenges remain, such as virus spread and the status of state and local guidelines, and continue to be beyond the control of the Conference and its member institutions.
Within that environment, however, the Mountain West has been working diligently to identify a viable path forward to resume athletic competition at the appropriate time. Physical and mental health and well-being for the Conference's student-athletes and staff remains the priority in these efforts. The MW Board of Directors, Athletic Directors, Health & Safety Advisory Committee, Conference staff, institutional athletics administrators, coaches and student-athlete representatives have been meeting frequently to consider new scheduling models, enhanced medical protocols and revised management plans that can facilitate a responsible return to play.
These concepts are being adapted to fit within NCAA parameters expected to be acted upon by the NCAA Division I Council during its September 16 meeting, including frameworks for football, men's & women's basketball and rescheduled fall sports. Other winter sports and spring sports seasons are currently expected to proceed as originally planned and would be conducted concurrently with the rescheduled sports in what would be a robust spring offering. On a parallel track, negotiations are ongoing to secure the necessary testing arrangements and put in place appropriate health guidelines. Every effort is being made to overcome the existing multi-state obstacles within this complex issue to enable a data-driven decision that maximizes the opportunity for the Mountain West's student-athletes to compete.
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ORIGINAL STORY: August 11, 2020:
The Mountain West has announced the indefinite postponement of all scheduled fall sports contests and MW championship events in response to ongoing challenges with the effective mitigation and management of the COVID-19 virus in conjunction with athletic competition. The MW Board of Directors prioritized the physical and mental health and well-being of the Conference’s student-athletes and overall campus communities in its decision – as it has done throughout the course of the pandemic.
The fall sports affected by today’s decision include men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball (with the exception of the unique circumstances involved with the military service academies). Last week, the league announced that all fall competition in the sports of men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, softball and baseball was canceled. At this time, there are ongoing discussions regarding the status of winter sports.
The Mountain West will begin to explore the feasibility of rescheduling fall sports competition, including the possibility of those sports competing in the spring, and develop options for consideration. Athletically-related activities and training opportunities for enrolled student-athletes will also be evaluated consistent with NCAA legislation and guidance, as well as state, local and campus parameters.
“Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our students, student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff and overall communities,” said Dr. Mary Papazian, President at San José State University and Chair of the MW Board of Directors. “Through the hard work of many over the past several months, the Conference made every effort to create an opportunity for our student-athletes to compete, and we empathize with the disappointment this creates for everyone associated with our programs. The best interests of our students and student-athletes remain our focus and we will persist in our efforts to forge a viable and responsible path forward.”
“Since the start of the pandemic, our membership and staff have been working diligently to prepare for a fall sports season,” said MW Commissioner Craig Thompson. “We were hopeful we could carefully and responsibly conduct competition as originally scheduled with essential protocols in place. However, numerous external factors and unknowns outside our control made this difficult decision necessary. I fully understand the impact of this outcome on our student- athletes, coaches, administrators and staff who work so hard daily to play the sports we all love, and I share in their disappointment. We will continue to navigate this pandemic together, overcome the obstacles and return to intercollegiate athletics at the earliest opportunity.”
University of Nevada Statements:
"We are heart-broken that Mountain West fall sports have been indefinitely postponed. We thought we could move forward with a shortened season, but the condition of the COVID-19 virus has not made contact sports with travel to competitions advisable. The student-athletes, coaches and staff, students, and the community have lost a rite of fall to the virus." -- University President Marc Johnson
"The physical and mental health, safety and well-bring of our student-athletes is of the greatest importance to us. At this point in time, the Mountain West board of directors has determined that it is not possible to protect our student-athletes with what we currently know, and don't know, about the COVID-19 virus. We support this decision.
"My heart aches for our hundreds of student-athletes, coaches and staff who have been affected by this decision, and I share the disappointment felt by the fans in our Wolf Pack community. We have the utmost gratitude for our team physician, Dr. Tony Islas and our sports medicine professionals for their extraordinary efforts over the past few months.
"Our focus is to continue to work to find a path forward while supporting our student-athletes as they strive for excellence, in competition, academically and in our community."
-- athletics director Doug Knuth
"For our players and fans, I am disappointed we won't get the chance to see this Wolf Pack team play this fall. We know we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. These are extraordinary times, we have to remember how fortunate we are. We care deeply for our guys safety and look forward to when we will play again." – Jay Norvell, head football coach.
"I am disappointed for our athletes who have trained so hard this summer that there will not be a fall cross country season. With a little luck, they will be able to shine in the spring." -- Kirk Elias, head cross country coach.
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(Mountain West)
