AUBURN, Alabama – With the second game of Auburn’s 2020 football season against North Carolina in question due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Tigers are now looking for an opponent to open the season with the announcement of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. (SWAC) Monday that the conference has postponed all fall competitions and championships “due to continuing concerns related to the global Covid-19 pandemic.”
That means Auburn’s scheduled opening game on September 5 against Alcorn State at Jordan-Hare Stadium will not be played, leaving the Tigers in search of a possible replacement game.
In a statement issued by the conference, SWAC stated:
Affected fall sports include men’s and women’s cross country, soccer, women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball. The conference has begun the process of formalizing plans to conduct a competitive program for fall sports during the semester. spring 2021.
Specifically, in the sport of soccer, the plan includes a seven-game conference schedule that begins with an eight-week training period in January 2021. Each member institution will play a total of six conference games (four divisionals). / two non-divisional) with the option to play a non-conference game.
“Additional details about the women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country programming will be released later along with the Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Championship game.
“Fall sports teams and student athletes will have the opportunity to attend classes and practices in preparation for a competitive spring 2021 schedule upon returning to campus. Student athletes will have the ability to participate in conditioning, strength training, and practices in all sports provided meet all required local, state and federal health and safety guidelines. No final decisions have been made regarding competitive league winter sports schedules at this time, “he said. the notice.
“The SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors deemed this action necessary due to the growing concern for the health, safety, and mental and physical well-being of our student athletes, coaches, administrators, team personnel, campus teachers, fans and supporters.
“The continued increase in Covid-19 cases in many parts of the league’s geographic footprint and southern regions of the country played an important role in the council’s decision, along with data suggesting that African-American communities have been seen disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The SWAC shares the disappointment that student athletes, fans and supporters affected by the postponement of the fall sports competition will undoubtedly feel. The league will continue to review appropriate measures to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of student athletes, coaches, administrators, and the local community, which remains the primary responsibility of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and its member institutions. “
For coach Gus Malzahn and the Auburn Tigers, that means a chance to find a replacement game to open the season. That’s something Auburn has already been working on, sources say. Inside the chestnut tigers. With several leagues and teams across the country already hit by cancellations, this could open the door for an interesting showdown to open the 2020 calendar.
Currently, Auburn is still slated to play in North Carolina at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic in Atlanta on September 12. Right now it’s still something that Kickoff Classic CEO Gary Stokan says he hopes will happen.
“We are still planning to play the game on September 12,” Stokan said. Inside the chestnut tigers Recently. “Everything is on time. We are waiting until the end of July to see what the SEC, ACC and Big 12 decisions are regarding going to conference-only games or whether they will play plus-one conference (game) or plus-two conference (games).
“In the case of any of those, conference plus one or conference plus two, the North Carolina game against Auburn would continue on September 12 and we hope to celebrate a Top 20 game with two great coaches and two of the best quarterbacks. young people of the country. “
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