BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced the postponement of all scheduled fall contests along with SWAC championships due to continuing concerns related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The postponement also affects the Auburn football team’s season opener with Alcorn State originally scheduled for Sept. 5. And in addition, the cancellation of the conference’s Fall sports also cancels the Magic City Classic hosted in Birmingham each year.
UAB football also suffers due to the SWAC conference decision. The UAB Director of Athletics, Mark Ingram, released a statement in regards to UAB football 2021 schedule changes.
“This decision impacts several of our sports schedules including a home football game scheduled on September 12 against Alabama A&M. We are currently having conversations with other programs about filling that game for the 2020 season.”
The fall sports impacted include men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball. The conference has started the process of formalizing plans to conduct a competitive schedule for the fall sports during the 2021 spring semester.
Specifically, in the sport of football the plan includes a seven-game conference schedule beginning with an eight-week training period in January 2021. Each member institution will play a total of six conference games (four divisional/two non-divisional) with the option to play one non-conference game.
The SWAC shares in the disappointment that will undoubtedly be felt by student-athletes, fans, and supporters impacted by the postponement of fall sports competition. The league will continue to review appropriate measures to ensure the health, safety and well-being of student-athletes, coaches, administrators and the local community which continues to be the primary responsibility of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and its member institutions.
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