MEAC Suspends its Spring Football Season
NORFOLK, Va., – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has suspended the spring 2021 football season, scheduled to start on Saturday, Feb. 20 through April 17.
Six of the MEAC’s nine football-playing institutions opted out of the spring 2021 season. Conference policy states if 50% or more institutions cannot participate in any championship, the championship for that sport will be suspended. As a result, the MEAC decided to allow individual member institutions to do what is best for their student-athletes and university community.
https://twitter.com/JoeSireraSports/status/1359952731620990981
Several MEAC institutions will play spring football. At this point, Delaware State, Howard and South Carolina State have expressed an intent to do so. Those institutions will follow the ongoing protocols they have outlined at their schools and continue to align with the CDC guidelines and the NCAA’s health and safety provisions that have guided collegiate athletics throughout the academic year.
“While it is tremendously disappointing to suspend the spring 2021 football season, it is the right decision with regards to the health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans,” MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas said. “As I have stated since the beginning of the pandemic, health and safety will continue to be at the forefront of every decision. We support those institutions who will continue to play.”
"I have made a decision as the Athletics Director that we are not going to continue to proceed to try to play football this year (Spring Season)." @NCATAGGIES AD Earl Hilton speaking today. MEAC canceled Spring Season but gave schools the decision to play. @WFMY @Luke_Lyddon pic.twitter.com/0iIQ29IlSF
— Brian Hall (@bhallwfmy) February 11, 2021
The MEAC will move forward with plans for a fall 2021 season.
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) celebrates its 50th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2020-21 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of 11 outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.
No final curtain call for NC. A&T, FAMU & B-C in the M.E.A.C. Conference before they go there different ways…. SAD!!!