The Mountain West postponed football and all fall sports due to safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The conference announced Monday all fall sports have been "indefinitely postponed."
“Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our students, student-athletes, coaches, faculty, staff and overall communities,” Dr.Mary Papazian, President at San José State University and Chair of the MW Board of Directors, said in a statement. “Through the hard work of many over the past several months, the Conference made every effort to create an opportunity for our student-athletes to compete, and we empathize with the disappointment this creates for everyone associated with our programs. The best interests of our students and student-athletes remain our focus and we will persist in our efforts to forge a viable and responsible path forward.”
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) August 10, 2020
The change comes just five days after the Mountain West announced football teams will play eight conference matchups with an optional two non-conference games, with kickoffs set for no earlier than Sept. 26.
All fall sports, which include football, women's soccer, women's volleyball and cross country, were set to begin no earlier than the week of Sept. 26.
Fall competitions for golf, tennis, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, softball and baseball have been canceled, according to the conference.
Boise State Director of Athletics Curt Apsey said any next steps for the university's programs will be made in accordance with NCAA legislation and guidance along with safety protocol from health officials.
"Despite everything that has been thrown in their way over the last several months, our student-athletes, coaches and staff had been preparing for a 2020 season. They were ready for every possible uncertainty, but in the end, the physical and mental well-being of student-athletes across the conference necessitated today’s announcement," Apsey said in the statement. "I am so appreciative of all the efforts to this point, and I feel deeply for everyone that has been working towards a championship-caliber season, especially our student-athletes."
The Mountain West follows as the second Division I conference to cancel fall sports after the Mid-American Conference announced it would cancel fall sports Saturday.
