Hampton University has become the latest HBCU to announce plans to suspend spring 2021 competition for a number of its athletic teams due to COVID-19.
Eugene Marshall, Jr., the school’s athletic director announced Friday that HU will suspend football, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, co-ed sailing, softball, volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s triathlon and men’s lacrosse.
HAMPTON SUSPENDS 2021 SPRING SEASONS #RespectTheH #BigSouthMade https://t.co/EIsmB1Iqbn
— Hampton Athletics (@HUAthletics1868) October 30, 2020
“This decision was not taken lightly, but it was in concert with the announcement from the University to continue with virtual instruction for the spring 2021 semester,” he said in a statement. “I would like to thank our student-athletes for their hard work, dedication and commitment, both academically and athletically while they’re away from campus. I look forward to seeing them again soon because we truly miss them.”
Hampton Basketball will continue
Men’s and women’s basketball at Hampton will continue but will play a modified schedule, which will be released at a later date with games being streamed on ESPN+.
According to the school, the decision to move forward with basketball was due to the fact that both programs are self-contained and compete outside of the campus footprint. No fans will be present at any home contest.
Hampton becomes the second NCAA Division I HBCU to announce the suspension of spring athletics for the 2021 season. On Tuesday, Bethune-Cookman announced its plans to forgo all spring sports due to COVID-19 concerns.
