Emory University and the University of Chicago on Friday joined the parade of schools cancelling intercollegiate athletics for the fall of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both schools are in the University Athletic Association. The UAA last week basically gave up on trying to mandate schedules for the fall season, saying in a statement that it would, “move away from a conference-adopted schedule. While we will continue to try to maintain UAA playing relationships as a priority, each UAA institution needs the flexibility to find additional local sport partners with which to compete, as they are able.” That’s partly out of necessity, as the eight-team league comprises schools from seven states from Missouri to Georgia to Massachusetts.
The decision by UChicago affects both fall-sports programs and winter sports, like men’s and women’s swimming, that begin their competitive seasons in the autumn quarter. The University of Chicago works on a trimester system with an “autumn quarter” from September through December, a “winter quarter” from Jan. 4, 2021-March 20 and then the “spring quarter” from March 29-June 12.
From a university statement to athletes:
It is with deep regret that I write to inform you that the Athletics & Recreation Working Group has decided that UChicago’s varsity teams will not participate in fall and winter sports competition during the upcoming Autumn Quarter. While this is a very disappointing outcome of the careful and deliberate process to evaluate the feasibility of a fall season, it reflects the most current public health and epidemiological guidance from the CDC, Illinois and Chicago public health agencies, NCAA, and specialists from UChicago Medicine. Moreover, UAA’s announcement last week about the fall conference schedule, the city of Chicago’s emergency travel order, and the limited availability of regional non-conference opponents led the Working Group, which includes members of the coaching staff, to conclude that there is not a realistic scenario in which we can appropriately conduct competition at this time.
The University of Chicago is working on a plan to bring “invited fall athletes” back to campus by Sep.t 2 for a phased-in program for conditioning and practice. Its working group is evaluating plans for winter and spring teams to practice ahead of and compete in the early part of 2021.
Emory likewise suspended sports for the fall 2020 semester, which includes delaying the start to the season for its powerhouse swimming programs. Emory’s women’s team has won 12 Division III championship, second-most all-time, including 10 in a row. The men’s team won its first national title in 2017 and was the runner-up to Denison in 2018 and 2019.
From Emory Director of Athletics Dr. Michael Vienna:
“The university and the athletics department have been working tirelessly to explore scenarios for a return to intercollegiate competition, club sports and intramurals, while keeping the health and safety of our students, coaches and staff as the primary focus. With that as our guiding principle, we cannot appropriately return to sport at this time. As more information regarding COVID-19 emerges, we determined the most effective way to mitigate risk of exposure to our campus community was to suspend all athletically-related activity for the fall semester. In the very near future, more information will be shared by our coaches, staff and the Eagle Edge Program to students on virtual engagement opportunities.”
Another UAA member, Brandeis University, announced Thursday that it will cancel its fall-season sports but deferred a decision on the winter sports like swimming.
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