BOSTON — The University of Massachusetts Athletics announced Tuesday it has canceled its 2020 football season, joining the growing list of FBS teams forgoing this season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The athletic department said that football student-athletes will remain enrolled in coursework full-time, either virtually or in-person.
“We have been in constant communication with university leadership and our football staff since March, with the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff remaining our top priority. The continuing challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic posed too great of a risk, and we reached the conclusion that attempting to play a season would not have placed the members of our program in the safest situation possible.”
— UMass Athletic Director Ryan Bamford
According to the release, “football team members began returning to campus for team activities in late June, 2020, with extensive health and safety protocols in place to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. Over the past seven weeks, the program had only one positive test with more than 600 COVID-19 tests administered.”
“I am absolutely heartbroken for our players, our former players, our alumni and our UMass Football community,” said UMass football head coach Walt Bell. “Our job as coaches and mentors is to provide opportunities for our players, and do everything in our power to not take them away. Today’s news was devastating, but we will be resilient and prepared to be our best when our best is required.
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