Nearly two weeks after Alcorn State made the decision to opt-out, the SWAC on Wednesday announced corresponding changes that would impact the league’s spring and fall schedule.
Saying it wanted “to ensure overall equity and cohesiveness” with the 2021 spring schedule, the conference said all games affected by Alcorn State’s absence would be considered no-contest forfeitures with wins being awarded to each of the Braves’ opponents.
“Conference policy states that a member institution that is unable to participate in all or in part of the designated Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule, shall forfeit all impacted games,” the league said in a statement.
Alcorn State announced on Feb. 9 that it would not participate in spring football due to coronavirus-related concerns.
Also read: Alcorn State to opt-out of 2021 spring football season
The SWAC also will rearrange the conference fall schedule that features Alcorn State playing away games at Southern, Missississippi Valley State and Alabama A&M — all the schools that lost home games after Alcorn State decided to not pursue spring competition.
These decisions, the conference said, were made in accordance with previously agreed-upon policies as it related to cancelations and scheduling.
“As a result, the conference office attempted to reschedule games that were subsequently lost due to this decision,” the SWAC said. “But based upon the uniqueness related to the spring season scheduling model, the league was unable to reschedule any of the contests that were impacted.”
