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Big Ten makes it official: Fall season canceled

The Big Ten Conference fall sports season is canceled due to the coronavirus.

Following a meeting of conference presidents today, the league confirmed what had been speculated for the past two days.

New commissioner Kevin Warren told the Big Ten Network, “We promised ourselves it was going to be a fluid and day-to-day situation. We were doing everything we could do to have fall sports, but the overarching issue was the health and safety and welfare of our student-athletes. We just believed collectively there’s too much uncertainty at this point in time in our country to encourage our student-athletes to participate in fall sports.”

Along with football, the fall sports included are men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball.

The Big Ten will continue to evaluate a number of options, including the possibility of moving the football season, along with the other sports, to the spring.

Penn State Athletic Director Sandy Barbour was “heartbroken” but “supportive” of the decision.

“I know this announcement is one that will hit our student-athletes, coaches and staff very hard,” she said. “A piece of our student-athletes’ collegiate experience has been taken from them for reasons beyond their control and for that, I am heartbroken. (But) we support the Big Ten’s decision. I know this was not an easy decision, or one taken lightly by those involved. However, it was the decision the university presidents, commissioner Kevin Warren and the athletic directors believe was best for the long-term health and safety of our student-athletes.”

Shortly after the Big Ten decision was announced, the Pac-12 followed suit and canceled its season.

The Mirror will have more details in Wednesday’s print edition.

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