But the lights went out in the last game scheduled outside the North Dakota state conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pioneer Football League canceled all non-league games on Monday, which means the September 12 contest for Drake University (Iowa), a member of Bison and Pioneer, is canceled.
That follows in the footsteps of the Pac-12 Conference that cancels non-league games, putting the NDSU and Oregon game off the hook. A&T’s North Carolina league, the Middle East Athletic Conference, canceled fall soccer entirely, thus ending A&T’s trip to Fargo on September 19.
He leaves the NDSU season opener in Northern Iowa on Sept. 26 and the gate opening at Gate City Bank Field in Fargodome on Oct. 3 against Illinois State. That doesn’t mean it’s set in stone, and sports director Matt Larsen said Monday, “We’ve had some good conversations with some places.”
“Before we finish anything, let’s measure where the next 10-day week will take us,” he said. “We definitely have a few options, which is promising. At least there are a couple of irons on the fire.”
At the very least, it puts the 12,500 NDSU sold-out season ticket base in limbo for September. Essentially, with single game tickets eliminated, a full season of sold out games could be in the balance with FCS leagues prone not to play.
When asked what advice he would give season ticket holders, Larsen said “hang in there.”
“I still think there are a lot of questions, probably more questions than answers,” Larsen said. “We are highly motivated, as are many places to have a college football season. Our goal is to make it happen in the fall and, if not, look for other options. As we get information, we will pass it on. Whether there are games additional or schedule adjustments, just hang in there with us. “
The valley also appears to be waiting 10 days next week. The league and its Council of Presidents said it will continue to monitor national developments.
“The Missouri Valley Soccer Presidents Council has determined that patience is warranted with regard to any decision to modify the fall 2020 season, seeing the merit of delaying as long as the possibility exists of providing a safe competitive opportunity for student athletes MVFC, “the league said in a statement.
MVFC Commissioner Patty Viverito is also the commissioner of the Pioneer Football League. In its statement on Monday, the PFL said the “Council of Presidents of the Pioneer Football League has determined that the PFL’s fall schedule will not include any out-of-conference competition and, if held, a schedule only for The conference will not begin before September 26. The Council will monitor the national developments, ensuring that the league’s plans continue to be supported by current medical evidence and guidance. It is the intent of the Council to ensure the health and well-being of student athletes and the communities they live in. “
The news did not surprise Larsen, he said, citing conversations with Drake’s athletic director Brian Hardin. Larsen said he thought Pioneer would cut its hours given the fact that league teams stretch across the country from San Diego to Marist College (NY).
It’s been a tough couple of weeks elsewhere in the FCS, with five leagues shutting down soccer operations this fall, including the powerful Colonial Athletics Association. Also, the Patriot League, the Ivy League and the Southwestern Athletic Conference are not playing in addition to the MEAC.
Two Big South Conference schools, Monmouth University (NJ) and Hampton (Virginia), are also not playing as mandated by their respective universities.
The Big Sky and Southland conferences celebrated their virtual media days last week, an important sign of their intention to play this fall.
There was also some promising news on a day of negativity: Bison’s soccer head coach Matt Entz said his program has had no positive tests that he knows of since the revelation of 13 student athletes who understand all the positive sports tests the last week.
“We are trying hard,” he said.
