FLORENCE, Ala — The University of North Alabama will have the opportunity to play four games on its 2020 fall football schedule, despite the announcement today that the Big South Conference is delaying its fall seasons with the intent of playing in the spring.
The Big South Football Members voted to allow up to four non-conference games in the fall at institutional discretion. UNA's current fall schedule would include games against Western Illinois, Jacksonville State, Chattanooga and Brigham Young.
While the Big South moved all of its fall sports to the spring, UNA's other 13 sports compete as members of the ASUN Conference and that league has not yet made a determination on its fall seasons. All ASUN schedules were previously pushed back to a Sept. 18 start date.
"Our plan is to look at all of our options and hopefully have the chance to play a full slate of games, combining the fall and spring," said UNA Athletic Director Mark Linder. "One of the biggest concerns of our players is not having the opportunity to play a full schedule. This plan provides the ultimate flexibility, to play four non-conference games in the fall and the Big South schedule in the spring."
Big South Conference Statement
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE DELAYS FALL SEASONS; TARGETS SPRING
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – With the health and well-being of its student-athletes as its top priority, the Big South Conference announced today it is delaying its fall sports seasons with the intent of playing in the spring. This includes the sports of men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's soccer, and volleyball. Additionally, fall competitions in the sports of men's and women's golf and men's and women's tennis, and out of season competitions in spring sports have been suspended as well. The Big South Football Members voted to allow up to four non-conference games in the fall at institutional discretion.
"We are all broken-hearted that we will not be able to provide competitive opportunities for Big South student-athletes this fall," commented Commissioner Kyle Kallander. "However, the path forward must protect the health and safety of our student-athletes, and some of the current trends and unknowns with COVID-19 have made that a huge challenge. Our intention is to shift these fall seasons to the spring as we would like nothing more than to crown Big South champions in all 19 of our sports this year."
Big South member institutions may continue with permissible athletics activities, as defined by NCAA regulations and with the exception of fall sport competition, at their own discretion and in accordance with applicable local and state regulations and procedures.
