ATLANTA, Ga. - The ASUN Conference Presidents' Council announced the postponement of all ASUN Regular Season and ASUN Championship competition for the 2020 fall semester sports today due to ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Obviously this is a huge disappointment," said ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart. "Anyone who follows college sports understands the dynamics that brought us to this decision, but that doesn't mean we like it. My feelings right now? COVID stinks. If you weren't putting my words into a public release, I might put it another way."
The postponement of competition in conference-sponsored fall semester sports includes Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer and Volleyball. The Presidents' Council decision on no fall competition will also apply to intercollegiate competition for any ASUN sponsored sports that have a designated spring championship.
The ASUN Presidents' Council also affirmed that providing a spring season for the fall sports remains an ASUN priority. The ASUN winter sports of Men's and Women's Basketball and Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field are not impacted by this decision.
"We will make every effort to provide a quality competitive experience for our fall student-athletes during the spring semester," Gumbart said. "We're not in the position today to guarantee it will happen, but we can promise to make every effort to get there. We owe that to our student-athletes, our athletic departments and our institutions. Lastly, I'll share that I'm very proud of the way the entire ASUN family participated in the discussions over the past few months, including our students, athletic staff, administrators and presidents."
ASUN member institutions may continue with permissible athletic activities related to training and practice in accordance with NCAA, local and state guidelines. The conference will continue to monitor all data and dynamics woven into the pandemic and continue to place Students First in its decision-making approach.
Statement From Lipscomb Athletics
Director of Athletics Philip Hutcheson
"Before making any other comment, I want to start with a simple 'I'm sorry' for all of our student-athletes and programs. Competing as a collegiate student-athlete has been a dream for so many of our members. To have that dream taken away for reasons entirely out of their control is so difficult and I share those feelings of sorrow, frustration and loss.
"Knowing the NCAA would automatically cancel fall championships with more than 50% of Division I teams having already canceled their fall season, the decision for the ASUN Conference to cancel its fall was not entirely surprising. However, it's no less disappointing to all of us, starting with our student-athletes, and I am sorry this is where we are as a result of this pandemic.
"We are still working toward a solution that would provide a way for fall sports to compete in the spring - that is our hope and our goal.
I will continue to talk with coaches both individually and collectively to understand the desires and issues faced and to help represent our programs in the discussions being held as we work toward alternative plans.
"There are still many questions to be answered in terms of some possible version of a spring season, practice and recruiting calendars, eligibility and scholarship questions for next year and more.
"We will continue working as a part of the NCAA Division I, as a part of the ASUN and as a part of the Lipscomb community to do our best for all concerned. And during this confusing time, we share as much information as we are able to in order to help our student-athletes, programs and supporters understand the issues and opportunities at hand.
"We have always said that we compete at the "Highest Level with a Higher Calling" in mind. And now, more than ever, we will focus as coaches, staff and administrators on doing the thing it takes - whether or not we ever play a game - to make this year successful in terms of the experiences and growth of our student-athletes."
