The news on NCAA athletics have been released at a fast and furious rate. Following the cancelling of the Texas and Texas Tech Big 12 tournament game on Thursday morning, it was reported following that news that the Big 12 would cancel their tournament much like the rest of the power five conferences.
In wake of the decisions made by the conference commisioners, the news spread about cancellations of spring athletics much like New Mexico University with their upcoming series with the Texas Longhorns baseball team. The opportunity arose for each athletic conference along with the professional sports leagues to try and slow the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus).
The Big 12 later released a tweet that they would be suspending all conference championships until at least April 15th.
The @Big12Conference has announced the immediate suspension of all Conference championships until April 15, resulting in the cancellation of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Basketball Championships.
Conducting future Big 12 championships this season will be evaluated by April 15. pic.twitter.com/HIGxfSrlLn
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 12, 2020
The NCAA later cancelled the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments as well as the men’s and women’s College World Series. Essentially all sports through the academic year of 2019-2020 have been cancelled at this point in time.
The @Big12Conference announces that beginning Friday, March 13, it is suspending all regular-season competitions, on- and off-campus recruiting, and out-of-season practices until Sunday, March 29.
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 12, 2020
Athletic Directory Chris Del Conte released the following statement.
With the Big 12’s recent directive suspending athletics activities until Sunday, March 29, all regular-season Longhorn Athletics competitions will be cancelled until that date, beginning with our Baseball series on Friday. In addition to in-season UT sports with current regular-season competition like Baseball, Golf, Rowing, Softball and Tennis, this also will include the Texas Relays and Spring Soccer matches, and postpone a decision on the start of Spring Football Practice until after the March 29 date.
“That was followed by an announcement from the NCAA that all winter and spring sports championships have been cancelled, which includes those upcoming in Track & Field, Basketball and Swimming & Diving. This is a very fluid situation and one that presents great challenges. The health, safety and well-being of everyone involved is the number one priority and we will be having many discussions in the coming hours, days and weeks to determine what the next steps are. We appreciate everyone’s support and patience on this and will continue to provide updates as decisions are made
At this point in time, spring football is at least pushed back into the month of April most likely but we will provide updates as they are passed along.