The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, a Divison II conference made up of historically Black colleges, has suspended all sporting and championship events through the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision by the SIAC marks the first conference in the South to postpone its fall sports, as many sports fans eagerly await the possible return of college football. The postponement comes on the heels of the Ivy League reaching the same decision. 

"As of today, and as COVID-19 infections surge throughout the country in general and the southeastern region in particular, it would be difficult to fairly and responsibly conclude that meaningful progress has been made at this time," the SIAC said Thursday.

The Ivy League Council of Presidents released a similar statement on July 8, saying in part that "as a leadership group, we have a responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interest of the students who attend our institutions, as well as the faculty and staff who work at our schools."

The SIAC is a Division II athletic conference consisting primarily of historically Black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta.

Georgia schools in the conference include Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, Fort Valley State University, Morehouse College and Savannah State University.

Morehouse made the decision last month not to hold sports this fall. The school won a $1 million grant from First Point Volleyball Foundation and USA Volleyball allowed Morehouse to offer volleyball as part of an effort to increase diversity in the sport. The grant will fund the first three years of the programs at the NCAA Division II schools, GPB News reported last fall.

SIAC Council of President Chairman George T. French Jr. said the decision was guided by the prevailing data, science as well as current coronavirus infection trajectories.  

"In light of these very difficult realities, and in the context of the overarching priority of all of my colleague SIAC presidents to protect the health, wellness and safety of all of our students and staff, we are confident that the decision announced today is consistent with those fundamental health and safety priorities,” French said.

Some sports have resumed throughout Georgia, including NASCAR, which held its Folds of Honor last month at Atlanta Motor Speedway without any spectators.

Tags: Coronavirus  Georgia sports  Atlanta  Georgia  Macon  Savannah