TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Florida A&M University has announced it will not have football this spring as planned.
FAMU athletic director, Kortne Gosha, made the announcement that football, along with volleyball and indoor track, will not be played this spring.
"We knew at some point we'd reach a crossroad where we'd have to make a tough decision," said Gosha.
He said he spoke with players and coaches each sport on Wednesday afternoon.
"You're seeing around the country perennial teams that are in danger of being canceled or postponed and quite frankly, putting our kids in those types of positions and wasting our resources for a 50/50 shot," Gosha said.
Having to tell the athletes, didn't make it any easier.
"There was a great deal of disappointment in the room," said Gosha.
FAMU's football season, which included match-ups against Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central, and South Carolina State, was scheduled to start on Feb. 20, with the regular season ending on April 10.
Now, FAMU shifts its attention to transitioning to the SWAC next year; however, Gosha said the Rattlers were prepared for the financial impact of losing football.
"We were proactive and not reactive," said Gosha. "This one stings right now. I think for anybody associated with our program. I stand by it, our coaches stand by it. This was the right decision for us."
In July, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) postponed its seasons for all fall sports due to ongoing concerns about the coronavirus.
This is a developing story. Stay with us for updates.
