Big West postpones fall sports

by J.R. Eskilson

July 29, 2020

The Big West Conference announced on Wednesday that the conference was postponing fall sports through the end of the calendar year.

"In making the decision, the Board recognized the continued serious challenges to health and safety on Big West campuses and communities impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic."

The Big West canceling fall sports is the latest Division I conference to do so following in the footsteps of the MAAC earlier this week. The Big West is the sixth Division I conference to cancel/postpone soccer for 2020.

"Realizing that intercollegiate athletics’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic remains very fluid, the Board noted a decision on whether fall sport competition would be feasible in the spring will be determined by the Board of Directors at a later date and be based on conditions and circumstances that are in the best interests of the student-athletes," the Big West said in a press release.

This decision has larger ramifications as UC Santa Barbara was scheduled to host the 2020 Men's College Cup in December. The event was already under question given the current circumstances of travel and the global pandemic.

Additional details about the athletic schedule for the fall for other conferences should be announced in the coming weeks.