The University of Nebraska-Kearney and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced Monday that all fall sports are delayed until Sept 28.
This change affects football, volleyball, cross-country, women’s golf, women’s soccer, and women’s tennis. Nine of of the 23 NCAA Division II conferences have canceled fall sports seasons.
“This is very challenging and creates some difficulties, but delaying the start of our seasons gives us hope that there will be games this fall,” said UNK Athletic Director Marc Bauer in a statement released by the athletic department. “We need sports on this campus and in our community because it pulls us together. It’s been an empty feeling the last four months with no practices or games. At the same time, we know we have to move forward in a way that’s safe and protects the health of everybody.”
The MIAA is not canceling the games scheduled before the new start date and is moving them to the spring. A new NCAA ruling allows for split seasons where teams can play regular season games and championship games in different semesters.
UNK has scheduled three football games, five volleyball matches and five soccer matches in the spring. The MIAA has yet to announce dates for those events. Campus leaders from conferences schools will meet again Aug. 3.
The football season for UNK is now scheduled to start Oct. 3 against Missouri Western; the volleyball season starts Oct. 2 against Northwest Missouri State; and soccer starts Oct. 2 against Newman.
Schedules for golf, cross-country and tennis have yet to be released.
