Tag: Greg Sankey

SEC cancels all remaining competitions, includes spring football games

Conference commissioner Greg Sankey made the necessary decision. It just makes everything else seem even worse somehow.

Amid concerns regarding COVID-19, the Southeastern Conference has canceled play for all remaining winter and spring sports.

This includes out-of conference contests, SEC championship tournaments, and each school’s spring football scrimmage. No football program will host a pro day for its NFL prospects.

Conference commissioner Greg Sankey made the necessary decision. It just makes everything else seem even worse somehow.

“This is a difficult day for all of us, and I am especially disappointed for our student athletes. The health and well-being of our entire conference community is an ongoing priority for the SEC as we continue to monitor developments and information about the COVID-19 virus.”

As per the SEC’s official statement:

“Team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings, whether required or voluntary, remain suspended through at least April 15.”

For more into how the global health pandemic affects the world of college sports:

Georgia football produces positive video amid coronavirus pandemic

Finebaum: NCAA president Emmert’s handling of cancellations “inexcusable”

Coronavirus forces NCAA to make big decisions regarding eligibility, recruiting

SEC cancels its men’s basketball tournament due to coronavirus

NCAA grants spring season athletes an extra year of eligibility

Will Georgia football cancel G-Day due to coronavirus?

Georgia football Pro Day postponed amid coronavirus outbreak

Coronavirus pandemic: Greg Sankey thanks fans for ‘loyalty during these extraordinary times’

Greg Sankey thanks fans for ‘loyalty during these extraordinary times’

BIRMINGHAM — The sports world has been placed on hold during the coronavirus pandemic.

Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey issued a statement on Twitter Sunday night thanking fans for their loyalty during extraordinary times. He also discussed how student-athletes are dealing with the cancellation of games and events.

“In the past few days we have moved from the certainty of a men’s basketball tournament championship game today to a circumstance where many things in our world feel uncertain,” Sankey Tweeted. “Needless to say, this is an unprecedented experience for us all. We take very seriously each decision made related to coronavirus/COVID-19.

“We all care about sports, but we care more deeply about the people involved in our sports. For them, I can only imagine, the shock, disappointment, anger and frustration that comes from learning your season, your championship, your opportunity to be with your team, and your desire to pursue your passion have been disrupted. For our fans, thank you for your loyalty during these extraordinary times. And, please know the leadership of the Southeastern Conference, including myself, our presidents and chancellors and the SEC’s athletics directors, will consider carefully the manner in which we move forward.”

SEC suspends all recruiting through March 30 due to coronavirus pandemic

SEC suspends all recruiting through March 30.

NASHVILLE — The Southeastern Conference has suspended all recruiting through March 30 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Going forward with spring football is up to each individual school if they choose to have practices.

Spring football practices kicked off for Tennessee March 10. The Vols completed its second practice during spring football Thursday and made it closed to media.

“We did have conversations about recruiting, as I referenced, and have stopped off-campus and on-campus recruiting for a period of time,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said Thursday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Sankey said he has “identified the NCAA needs to fully engage on this issue as well.”

“The practice issue may be for them nationally,” Sankey continued. “I think we had some conversations. I don’t know that we came to a destination, so that means it’s still on that list that we’re creating.”

SEC cancels basketball tournament, suspends baseball and softball

SEC cancels basketball tournament, suspends baseball and softball.

NASHVILLE — Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey was emotional on Thursday afternoon at a press conference after he made the decision to cancel the SEC men’s basketball tournament.

The event was officially canceled before No. 8 seed Tennessee was slated to take on No. 9 Alabama.

“You make the best decisions and the most responsible decisions with the information that you have available,” Sankey said.

The SEC was not the only league to bring a halt to its postseason tournament. All remaining conference tournaments will not be played.

Furthermore, Sankey announced that all on-field completion in baseball and softball will be suspended until at least March 30. He noted that national championships in wrestling, gymnastics and indoor track and field are scheduled to proceed as scheduled and that the SEC teams in those sports will be allowed to participate.

Baseball and softball may be affected beyond the month of March.

“It may not be March 30, it may be beyond,” Sankey said.

The NBA, NHL and MLS have all suspended play and Major League Baseball is also planning to shut down operations in definitely.

SEC to play remainder of men’s basketball tournament, all regular season, championship events with attendance restrictions

SEC to play remainder of men’s basketball tournament, all regular season, championship events with attendance restrictions.

BIRMINGHAM – The Southeastern Conference has announced that the league will play the remainder of its men’s basketball tournament, all regular season and championship events with attendance restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

SEC press release:

The Southeastern Conference has announced it will conduct the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament with only essential staff, limited family and credentialed media in attendance at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville for the remainder of the week beginning on Thursday following the recommendation of the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel related to conducting sporting events closed to the public.

In addition, the SEC announced that all regular season contests in all sports on SEC campuses and SEC Championship events will be conducted with similar attendance restrictions effective Thursday, March 12 through at least March 30 at which time the conference and its member universities will re-evaluate conditions.

The SEC issued a statement from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey:

“In light of recent developments beyond our control related to the spread of the coronavirus, including a recommendation from the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel, and after consultation with our member universities, we have made the difficult decision to hold the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament in Nashville without spectators beginning with games of Thursday, March 12. Effective immediately, the policy will also apply to other SEC Championship events and on-campus regular season games scheduled through at least the end of March.

“After conferring with local and national health authorities, we remain confident in our ability to safeguard the health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and other staff who will be participating as well as the limited number of family members and media who will be in attendance at the tournament. 

“We regret the inconvenience and disappointment this decision has caused our fans, especially those who have already travelled to Nashville for the tournament.”

As previously announced, the SEC has implemented the following enhanced health measures for the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament:

• Use of hospital grade disinfectant to sanitize locker rooms before teams arrive and immediately upon departure;

• Sanitization of game balls with hospital grade disinfectant after each practice and game;

• Sanitization of team benches plus band and cheerleader seating areas following each game;

• Hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes and Lysol spray in team locker rooms;

• Hand sanitizers at scorer’s table, in officials’ locker rooms, operations offices and media areas.

For the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, automatic refunds of ticket purchases will be made to fans who are the original purchaser of the tickets from SEC Office or an SEC university, or a verified purchaser on the SEC Ticket Exchange powered by Ticketmaster.  For regular season events, each campus will determine refund policies and procedures.

The SEC Network will televise the entire first and second round of the tournament and the quarterfinals evening session.  ESPN will broadcast the afternoon session of the quarterfinals, both semifinal matchups and the championship game.

The SEC remains in continued communication with public health officials and reminds everyone to be attentive to everyday preventive actions identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov).

SEC issues half-game bowl suspension for Jauan Jennings

SEC suspends Jauan Jennings.

BIRMINGHAM — The Southeastern Conference has announced that Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings has been suspended for the first half of Tennessee’s post-season bowl game.

SEC press release:

Tennessee football player Jauan Jennings has been suspended by the Southeastern Conference for the first half of Tennessee’s post-season bowl game for actions against an opposing player during the Vanderbilt at Tennessee game on November 30, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey announced Wednesday.

With 3:06 remaining in the fourth quarter of the game, Jennings was involved in an altercation with an opposing player in which he committed a flagrant personal foul as determined by a video review by the conference office.

The suspension is consistent with NCAA Football Playing Rule 9-6-2 which states “If subsequent review of a game by a conference reveals plays involving flagrant personal fouls that game officials did not call, the conference may impose sanctions prior to the next scheduled game.”

The Southeastern Conference considers this matter concluded and will have no further comment.