FVSU and SIAC Announces 2020 Fall Sports Suspension

7/9/2020 5:42:00 PM

By: AD Anthony Holloman

FORT VALLEY, Ga. -- Early today, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) released a statement on the suspension of the 2020 Fall Sports season. Fort Valley State will follow the SIAC decision and look out for the well-being of all Wildcats fall sports athletes and campus community.

Letter from FVSU Director of Athletics Anthony Holloman:

PDF Version
Dear Wildcats:

Because our utmost concern is protecting the health and wellbeing of all members of our University
community, all fall 2020 sports at Fort Valley State University have been suspended. I wish the timing
allowed me to meet with each of you personally to express how difficult this decision was. However,
COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus. Because sports involve high in-person contact or proximity, the
SIAC Conference had to take the necessary measures to protect the health and well-being of our student
athletes.

Official SIAC Release

COVID-19 has forever changed the landscape of higher education and the way we engage our most
important stakeholder - our students. As a result, we must embrace our new reality with all deliberate
speed as we identify contingencies that ensure risk associated with athletic competition is mitigated.
The SIAC will continue to monitor the feasibility of its member institutions returning to competition
with the remaining winter and spring sports. We hope the aggressive measures being put into place will
position FVSU to resume sports in the spring 2021.

This fall, student-athletes will be allowed to participate in skill development sessions, strength and
conditioning training, and practices that include ten or fewer people and adhere to recommended CDC
guidelines. In addition, we will honor all athletic aid awarded to our student-athletes.

The suspension of last spring and now fall sports is traumatic and brings anxiety and uncertainty. I
recognize that you will experience a range of emotions, and they are valid and should be addressed. We
will prevail together. Let's support each other and come through this stronger than ever before!

We can do this together. Greatness is waiting for the Wildcats who accept the challenge!

Anthony L. Holloman
Vice President for University Advancement/Athletics

-Wildcats-

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