Wayne State University Athletics

General 8/12/2020 10:02:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

GLIAC Suspends All Sports Competition Until January 1, 2021

DETROIT -- Today the GLIAC Council of Presidents unanimously announced the suspension of all sports competition until January 1, 2021. This decision effectively means the fall sports (football, volleyball, cross country, golf and tennis) will have no conference or non-conference play until at least the start of the new year. Because the suspension date is until January 1, 2021, the start of winter sports such as men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's fencing, and women's indoor track are also affected. In this period of time, student athletes will be allowed to participate in practice sessions and workouts as mandated by the NCAA.

Earlier the NCAA Board of Governors and NCAA Division II Council of Presidents had acted to cancel all fall NCAA championships. That decision, along with the number of additional stipulations, guided this decision. Those can be referenced by going to NCAA.org.

The Wayne State University Department of Athletics, which has already implemented a robust testing program, daily screening and education program, will continue these initiatives in an effort to provide the utmost protection and safety to student-athletes, coaches and staff. These already enacted measures compliment the directives of the NCAA.

"I know this decision is disappointing to not just our student-athletes but our coaches, staff and community who look forward each year to the excitement and spontaneity of Warrior athletics," stated Wayne State University Director of Athletics Rob Fournier. "For many the 'routine' of college athletics is a source of pride, inspiration and motivation. We will continue to build on those aspirational goals and prepare for the hopeful opportunity of the promise of each spring.

"We still have many issues to resolve going forward – what those fall seasons look like in the winter/spring and how best to prepare for a modified calendar. However just like when our student-athletes and our coaches adjusted last spring when the season was abruptly canceled, we responded with a tremendous academic semester that resulted in a 3.43 term GPA for all student-athletes and the individual team 'low' at 3.17, this too presents a like opportunity on which we will build. Athletics is resiliency and determination … much like life. We will be ready for this challenge … and the next."

In the coming weeks, the athletic department in conjunction with the conference will publish guidelines related to the resumption of competition and the opportunity to move fall sports to the winter/spring. Eligibility questions for student-athletes will be resolved in conjunction with the NCAA.

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