MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – In the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, Penn State University and the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses (OVPCC), the NCAA and the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Presidents' Council have released statements regarding the decision to cancel all remaining winter and spring athletic competition this season.
Below is the statement from OVPCC released on March 12:
"After careful review, and in an effort to minimize the potential spread of the coronavirus, OVPCC has determined it is in the best interests of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans to indefinitely suspend all athletic-related activities. Effectively immediately, all Commonwealth Campus intercollegiate athletics activities shall cease. During this suspension of athletic activities, no athletic contests, practices or training will take place, including at non-University affiliated facilities. Student-athletes are expected to continue with academic progress as University and national organization eligibility standards for current and future semesters will apply."
Below is the statement from the NCAA released on March 12:
"Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men's and women's 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities." (Full release)
Below is the statement from the NEAC Presidents' Council on March 12:
"As with any decision, the North Eastern Athletic Conference holds the health and well-being of our student-athletes at the forefront of everything that we do. Given the uncertainty of COVID-19, we also have a responsibility to exhibit careful consideration of all those that interact with our programs, our campuses and our greater communities. Therefore, the NEAC Presidents' Council has made the difficult decision to cancel all conference activities and championships for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year, effective immediately." (Full release)