Hampton is the lastest HBCU to nix its fall sports season amid concerns that the coronavirus spread will not be contained in time before the start of athletic competition in the coming months.
“Out of concern for the spread of COVID-19 among our athletes and members of other HU constituent groups, all fall sports have been suspended,” said Eugene Marshall Jr., athletic director at Hampton, in a statement. “If conditions permit, we anticipate resuming all athletic-related activities during the spring semester 2021. The spring semester will consist of both winter and spring sports.”
Marshall on Monday said the school’s decision to suspend fall sports “was not taken lightly.”
“…it was done in the best interest of our Hampton University students, student-athletes, faculty, staff, administration, alumni and fans,” he said. “I am extremely confident that we will work through these challenging times together. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
Hampton now joins Morehouse, Langston, and Wiley College as schools to either cancel or suspend fall sports due to coronavirus-related uncertainty. The CIAA and SIAC — two of the major DII HBCU conferences — announced last week they both were not moving forward with fall sports in 2020.
The SWAC and MEAC, however, have yet to make a decision whether their leagues will compete in the fall.
