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The outbreak of Coronovirus is now taking its toll on UCF Knights events, and updates are taking place quickly. UCF has just announced that classes will move to online instruction when students come back from Spring Break, effective March 16th.
It’s quite clear that UCF’s spring sports are now in danger of seeing their seasons at least truncated depending on events.
We’ve got the latest below.
Thursday, March 12
4:20 p.m. ET - THE NCAA HAS CANCELED ALL WINTER AND SPRING SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS.
No NCAA Basketball Tournaments, no College World Series, no nothing.
It’s all over.
NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships: https://t.co/p4vCzvzmvo pic.twitter.com/yqAHak4HO5
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) March 12, 2020
No postseason for basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, golf, etc. It's all done. https://t.co/stYQaWjr5V
— Brian Murphy (@Spokes_Murphy) March 12, 2020
4 p.m. ET - THE AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE HAS SUSPENDED ALL SPRING SPORTS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
It’s all shut down.
Per UCF: “UCF athletic teams will be permitted to hold practices and team activities but will not travel or participate in competition.”
Statement from the conference:
Effective immediately, all spring sports competition will be suspended until further notice. pic.twitter.com/ubBusaBBSc
— The American (@American_Conf) March 12, 2020
2:45 p.m. ET - UCF head basketball coach Johnny Dawkins releases a statement:
Official statement from #UCF men's basketball coach Johnny Dawkins regarding today's AAC Tournament cancellation. https://t.co/pth9hiGMZq
— Brian Murphy (@Spokes_Murphy) March 12, 2020
2:40 p.m. ET - UCF Volleyball head coach Todd Dagenais announces his team is canceling its spring matches scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday.
Want to let our @UCF_Volleyball fans know that we are going to take a bit of a break while officials and administrators get a better understanding of the Coronavirus situation. Wednesday match against Stetson and Saturday match against Miami are cancelled. Stay safe and healthy
— Todd Dagenais (@ucfvbtodd) March 12, 2020
12:30 p.m. ET - Per Glen Guilbeau, LSU beatwriter for USA Today, the SEC is canceling all athletic events through March 30th. This would include UCF Softball’s series with Ole Miss, scheduled for this coming weekend.
All SEC athletic events cancelled thru March 30, LSU athletic dept’s Bill Franques just said after meeting with Baseball coach Paul Mainieri
— Glenn Guilbeau (@LSUBeatTweet) March 12, 2020
12:15 p.m. ET - UCF announces practices and games will continue as scheduled but no fans will be allowed to attend.
UCF Athletics is closely monitoring the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
— UCF Knights (@UCFKnights) March 12, 2020
We plan to continue athletic competition and practice schedules—however beginning today spectators will no longer be permitted at upcoming Knights' home athletic contests https://t.co/8tbczydql5
Per the release:
At this time, there is no recommendation to entirely cancel UCF athletics events. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.
UCF plans to continue its athletic competition and practice schedules—however beginning today spectators will no longer be permitted at upcoming Knights’ home athletic contests. Only student-athletes, coaches, essential event and administrative staff, television partners, credentialed media and immediate family members of participants will be permitted to attend home events. No determination has been made on how long this policy will be in effect. UCF will continue to provide updates as available.
On ticket refunds:
Refunds for fans who have purchased single game tickets to upcoming sporting events, beginning with the baseball games against Yale this weekend will be automatically refunded in the next 7-10 business days. Refunds for additional upcoming events will be refunded within 7-10 business days after the scheduled event date, assuming the event is cancelled. UCF will work with season ticket holders at the end of the regular season to determine the impact and offer a partial refund. Fans with questions may contact the UCF ticket office at 407-823-1000 or tickets@athletics.ucf.edu.
On stuff still happening:
Fans can continue to follow the Knights home contests via live streaming at UCFKnights.tv, Twitch channels ucfknightstv1 and ucfknightstv2.
Noon ET - The Big Ten and SEC have followed suit and also canceled their postseason tournaments.
Big Ten, SEC and AAC cancel their basketball tournaments. I'd be surprised if everyone else doesn't follow suit quickly.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) March 12, 2020
As has Conference USA:
BREAKING: Conference USA just announced that the tournament has been canceled effective immediately.
— Grant Traylor (@GrantTraylor) March 12, 2020
And the Big 12, Pac-12, MAC, WAC and Atlantic 10.
The Big 12, A-10, MAC, WAC and Conference USA have also canceled their tournaments.
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) March 12, 2020
We are covering every moment LIVE on CBS Sports HQ.
WATCH: https://t.co/9DgoEeciLT
11:45 a.m. ET - The American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament is officially canceled.
Official: The AAC Tournament has been canceled. #UCF
— Brian Murphy (@Spokes_Murphy) March 12, 2020
Statement from the league:
Official statement from the American Athletic Conference, confirming that the tournament is canceled. pic.twitter.com/iz3IFmAzRO
— Brian Murphy (@Spokes_Murphy) March 12, 2020
UCF finishes its season 16-14.
Wednesday, March 11
9:05 p.m. ET - UCF announces its baseball series with Yale has been canceled.
The two teams had been scheduled for a three-game slate on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This was expected, as the Ivy League had cancelled all sports for the rest of the spring earlier.
There is no word yet on if another opponent will be found for the weekend series.
Yale notified UCF staff that its team will not be able to play @UCF_Baseball following the Ivy League announcement today that cancelled all league athletic events for the remainder of the year.https://t.co/0WmQ3xgMHv
— UCF Knights (@UCFKnights) March 12, 2020
8:45 p.m. ET - American announces there will be no fans at the Men’s Basketball Tournament
Only “student-athletes, coaches, essential event, team and Conference staff, ESPN personnel, credentialed media, and immediate family members of the 12 participating teams” will be allowed into Dickie’s Arena in Fort Worth.
Statement from Commissioner Mike Aresco regarding this weeks 2020 #AFReserve Men's Basketball Championship. pic.twitter.com/NRYOuFyblL
— American MBB (@American_MBB) March 12, 2020
4:34 p.m. ET - Statement from NCAA President Mark Emmert: No fans at NCAA Tournaments
“I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance.” - Emmert
NCAA President Mark Emmert statement on limiting attendance at NCAA events: https://t.co/TIHHJjdse5 pic.twitter.com/8I1HdceDfN
— NCAA (@NCAA) March 11, 2020
4:26 p.m. - The NCAA has advised all member institutions “against sporting events open to the public. We do believe sport events can take place with only essential personnel and limited family attendance, and this protects our players, employees, and fans.”
Full statement:
“The NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel recognizes the fluidity of COVID-19 and its impact on hosting events in a public space. COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the United States, and behavioral risk mitigation strategies are the best option for slowing the spread of this disease. This is especially important because mildly symptomatic individuals can transmit COVID-19. Given these considerations, coupled with a more unfavorable outcome of COVID-19 in older adults – especially those with underlying chronic medical conditions – we recommend against sporting events open to the public. We do believe sport events can take place with only essential personnel and limited family attendance, and this protects our players, employees, and fans.”
4:15 p.m. - Jacksonville has announced their game with Yale set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. will still be played as scheduled:
Even with today's announcement that the Ivy League has canceled all spring sports for the remainder of the semester, tonight's game vs. Yale is still on, first pitch at 7p.
— Jacksonville Baseball (@JUBaseball) March 11, 2020
Hope to see you at Sessions!#JUPhinsUp pic.twitter.com/N3h3IL4jV3
Still no word from UCF on the weekend series.
4 p.m. ET - UCF announces all classes will move to remote instruction as of Monday, March 16th, when students get back from Spring Break.
UCF will move to remote instruction effective Monday, March 16, to minimize health and safety risks to the UCF community as students and faculty prepare to return from Spring Break.
— UCF (@UCF) March 11, 2020
The State University System has advised its members to tell their students not to come back for in-person classes for at least two weeks.
#BREAKING: State universities with students who are currently on spring break or about to be on break should direct their students to NOT return to campus for at least 2 weeks following the conclusion of spring break, per @FLBOG. pic.twitter.com/yggeySSvNG
— UCF Knight News (@UCFKnightNews) March 11, 2020
No word yet from the athletic department on what this means for UCF sporting events.
3 p.m. ET - The Ivy League has announced it is cancelling all spring sports, effective immediately.
The Ivy League Presidents are announcing their unanimous decision to cancel all spring athletics practice and competition through the remainder of the academic year amid further developments in the outbreak of COVID-19.
— The Ivy League (@IvyLeague) March 11, 2020
» https://t.co/LVTUxHsswo pic.twitter.com/VAL7IkBWaB
UCF Baseball was scheduled to play a three-game set with Yale this weekend. Also, Columbia was scheduled to play at ECU and Penn was to play at Stetson.
No word yet from UCF on what happens next.