Athletics

1. Decisions about holding particular athletic activities, practices, and events (organized and informal) and under what conditions will be determined on a case-by-case basis, with full adherence to University, state, and national health guidelines and in compliance with NCAA and Southwestern Athletic Conference guidelines.
2. The Athletics Director will communicate NCAA and Conference policy, protocol, and/or decisions to the University Administration, as the situation arises.
3. The use of weight rooms and training/treatment rooms must be scheduled through athletics staff to reinforce proper social distancing and occupancy limits.
4. Enhanced cleaning and disinfectant protocols will be established for all athletics facilities with guidance from state and federal authorities, medical professionals, NCAA, and the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
5. Athletics will implement a predetermined spectator access model regarding required PPE and reduced capacity seating for all athletic events, based upon social distancing guidelines as a percentage of overall capacity or prescribed square footage per person.
6. Athletics will ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that all fans and volunteers will wear a cloth face mask, unless exempted with documentation by a medical professional, when attending events.
7. Athletics fans and volunteers should follow all state and federal safety and health guidelines when attending events.
8. All concessions equipment and areas will continue to be cleaned and disinfected in advance of the fall semester. In addition, all concession equipment and areas will be cleaned thoroughly before and after usage, once health officials deem athletic events appropriate.

7/20/2020 5:58:00 PM

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference has announced the postponement of all scheduled fall contests along with SWAC championships due to continuing concerns related to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The fall sports impacted include men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball. The conference has started the process of formalizing plans to conduct a competitive schedule for the fall sports during the 2021 spring semester.

Specifically, in the sport of football the plan includes a seven-game conference schedule beginning with an eight-week training period in January 2021. Each member institution will play a total of six conference games (four divisional/two non-divisional) with the option to play one non-conference game.

Additional details regarding scheduling for women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country along with the Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Championship game will be released at a later date.

Fall sports teams and student-athletes will have the opportunity to attend classes and practices in preparation for a spring 2021 competitive schedule upon return to campus. Student-athletes will have the ability to participate in conditioning, strength training and practices in all sports provided all required local, state, and federal health and safety guidelines are met. There have been no final decisions made regarding competitive schedules for the league’s winter sports at this time.

The SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors felt this action was necessary out of growing concern for the health, safety and well-being both mentally and physically of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, team staff, campus faculty, fans and supporters.

The continued increase of COVID-19 cases across many portions of the league’s geographic footprint and Southern regions of the country played a significant role in the council’s decision, along with data that suggests African-American communities have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SWAC shares in the disappointment that will undoubtedly be felt by student-athletes, fans, and supporters impacted by the postponement of fall sports competition. The league will continue to review appropriate measures to ensure the health, safety and well-being of student-athletes, coaches, administrators and the local community which continues to be the primary responsibility of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and its member institutions.

Click to view official SWAC Statement

7/20/2020 6:09:00 PM

LORMAN, Miss. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announced Monday that all member institutions, including Alcorn State University will postpone competition for fall sports.

The conference has started the process of formalizing plans to conduct a competitive schedule for the fall sports during the 2021 spring semester.

Specifically, in the sport of football the plan includes a seven-game conference schedule beginning with an eight-week training period in January 2021. Each member institution will play a total of six conference games (four divisional/two non-divisional) with the option to play one non-conference game.

Additional details regarding scheduling for women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country along with the Cricket Wireless SWAC Football Championship game will be released at a later date.

The decision was made due to the significant challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The SWAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors this action was necessary out of growing concern for the health, safety and well-being both mentally and physically of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, team staff, campus faculty, fans and supporters.

"The rapid escalation of COVID-19 cases around the country heavily influenced the decision, as well as data that suggests that the African-American and other minority communities are being disproportionately affected. Decisions of this magnitude are made in the best of interest of the health and safety of everyone involved," said director of athletics Derek Horne. "Our goal remains the same moving forward, and that is to enhance the experience of the student-athletes to the best of our abilities. We will do everything we can to create an environment where our student-athletes can thrive academically and continue their excellence in a safe and supportive manner. As a conference and institution, we will all work together to get through this challenging time."

Fall sports teams and student-athletes will have the opportunity to attend classes and practices in preparation for a spring 2021 competitive schedule upon return to campus. Student-athletes will have the ability to participate in conditioning, strength training and practices in all sports provided all required local, state, and federal health and safety guidelines are met.

There have been no final decisions made regarding competitive schedules for the league's winter and spring sports at this time.

#FearTheBrave | #UnitedAsOne

Click to view official Athletics Statement