RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Great American Conference presidents voted Friday night to suspend all fall and winter sports.
Football, basketball, cross country, soccer, golf and tennis have been suspended through Dec. 31.
The GAC’s Council of Presidents made its recommendation in response to last week’s directive from the NCAA Board of Governors. That was in regard to additional requirements, as well as the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Division II Fall Championships.
“We are disappointed for our student-athletes, coaches and communities,” GAC Commissioner Will Prewitt said. “Our membership presidents and athletic administrators did not arrive at this difficult decision lightly. Our hopes and work to date have been to proceed with fall competition following federal and state health guidance. However, recent decisions by the NCAA Board of Governors make this possibility unrealistic.
Great American Conference eyes future
“We now turn our focus as a conference on how to best support our student athletes during this challenging time. These options that will allow them to experience meaningful and safe competition during spring 2021.”
All NCAA athletically related activities (in all GAC sports), including in-season practices, out-of-season practices, weight training, team athletically related meetings, and voluntary workouts led by staff or in institutional facilities shall be permitted this fall. That is based on each institution’s ability to comply with the recent NCAA Board of Governor’s directive.
“The suspension of our fall and winter sports through December is a heartbreak for all of us,” said Harding President and GAC Council of Presidents Chairman Dr. Bruce McLarty. “Our athletes and college athletics are important to every GAC campus. The presidents are continuing our work to ensure that our student-athletes have a great college experience this year.
The GAC will continue to evaluate NCAA, federal, state, and local developments and will provide updated revisions. The league will announce revised schedules at a later date.