COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West has announced, on Aug. 10, the indefinite postponement of all scheduled fall sports contests and MW championship events in response to ongoing challenges with the effective mitigation and management of the COVID-19 virus in conjunction with athletic competition. The MW Board of Directors prioritized the physical and mental health and well-being of the conference's student-athletes and overall campus communities in its decision – as it has done throughout the course of the pandemic.
The fall sports affected by the decision include men's and women's cross country, football, women's soccer and women's volleyball.
The Mountain West will begin to explore the feasibility of rescheduling fall sports competition, including the possibility of those sports competing in the spring, and develop options for consideration. When a new schedule is finalized for fall sports, the San José State athletics department will contact season ticket holders for those sports.
Athletically-related activities and training opportunities for enrolled student-athletes will also be evaluated consistent with NCAA legislation and guidance, as well as state, local and campus parameters.
Last week, the league announced that all fall competition in the sports of men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, women's swimming and diving, men's and women's indoor track and field, softball and baseball was canceled. At this time, there are ongoing discussions regarding the status of winter sports.
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DR. MARY PAPAZIAN, CHAIR OF THE MOUNTAIN WEST BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our students, student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff and overall communities. Through the hard work of many over the past several months, the Conference made every effort to create an opportunity for our student-athletes to compete, and we empathize with the disappointment this creates for everyone associated with our programs. The best interests of our students and student-athletes remain our focus and we will persist in our efforts to forge a viable and responsible path forward."
MOUNTAIN WEST COMMISSIONER CRAIG THOMPSON
"Since the start of the pandemic, our membership and staff have been working diligently to prepare for a fall sports season. We were hopeful we could carefully and responsibly conduct competition as originally scheduled with essential protocols in place. However, numerous external factors and unknowns outside our control made this difficult decision necessary. I fully understand the impact of this outcome on our student- athletes, coaches, administrators and staff who work so hard daily to play the sports we all love, and I share in their disappointment. We will continue to navigate this pandemic together, overcome the obstacles and return to intercollegiate athletics at the earliest opportunity."
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR MARIE TUITE
"In these unprecedented times stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, we've had to pivot, adapt and respond to a changing landscape that impacts all of us. Health and safety guidelines for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and our fans will continue to guide us going forward. For the sports that have been postponed, we will continue to plan for a number of future scenarios, and look forward to additional guidance from our governor, county officials and the NCAA."
FOOTBALL HEAD COACH BRENT BRENNAN
"As I said last week, we have a resilient team and we plan to be ready whenever our season begins. There will be many questions and we will do our best to answer them for our players, their parents, and our fans. And, this is one more reminder to wash your hands often, wear your mask, and practice safe social distancing. This is a team effort and we need everyone to do their part."
VOLLEYBALL HEAD COACH TRENT KERSTEN
"This announcement aligns with our priorities as a team, university and conference. We will always put our student-athletes' health and well-being first. After listening to the feedback we have received from our student-athletes, this move validates their concerns and feelings. While we will miss the opportunities that our game offers by bringing people together, we will continue to find ways to come out of this stronger and ready for the future."
WOMEN'S SOCCER HEAD COACH LAUREN HANSON
"I fully support this incredibly challenging decision made by our university, athletic department and conference. I would like to thank Marie and our entire administration for their support throughout this time, and thank everyone in our athletic department for their hard work in helping make it safe for the student-athletes, staff and coaches. We look forward with hope that we are able to have a season this spring."
DIRECTOR OF TRACK AND FIELD & CROSS COUNTRY KENDRA REIMER-GONZALES
"Our men's and women's cross country teams, while saddened at the situation surrounding the pandemic, are committed to success regardless of the circumstance. We'll continue to approach our training with unwavering focus, our eyes firmly set on our goals, while prioritizing our safety. We certainly support this decision, and we thank our administration and the Mountain West for giving this the intense thought and discussion it deserves. Wear your mask, and stay ready!"
