It’s Official MIAC Cancels Most Fall Sports

The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced today they are postponing competition in most of their 2020 fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Sports include cross country, football, soccer and volleyball.

The announcement from the MIAC says, "The conference is working to develop spring schedules for those sports which have  been deemed at medium or high-risk for coronavirus transmission by the NCAA."

Men's and women's golf and tennis, categorized as low-risk sports will be permitted to compete against MIAC opponents only this fall in accordance with campus, state, and NCAA health directives, as well as the MIAC's Return-To-Athletics Plan.

The conference announcement concludes, "The President's Council continues to support institutional autonomy regarding the decision to participate in intercollegiate athletics this fall.

"Our number one priority is the health and safety of students and staff, " said Paul Pribbenow, Chair of the MIAC President's Council and Augsburg University President.  "The decision to postpone competition for many of our fall sports was very difficult, as we know how much our student-athletes want to compete and how important athletics are to each of our campuses, but we need to put ourselves in a position to return to play as safely as possible."

The MIAC announcement goes on to say they, "Will continue to evaluate options for the upcoming winter season and beyond, providing appropriate updates as they become available."

You might recall July 10th Carleton announced they were cancelling all of their fall varsity athletic team competitions.  At that time I talked with MIAC Commissioner Dan McKane and asked if the announcement was a precursor of things to come.

He did not say it was or was not saying the conference Athletic Directors and Presidents were meeting to discuss what should be done culminating in today's announcement.

KDHL Radio has been the voice of St. Olaf football for over 50 years and KQCL POWER 96 has been doing Carleton football and KDHL Carleton men's and women's baskeball for 15 years.