BURNSVILLE, Minn. – With the health and safety of its member institutions’ communities, the importance of successful institutional campus reopening and the overall well-being of its student-athletes as its top priorities, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Board of Directors announced a delayed start date for NSIC fall athletics competition.
 
Under the delayed start, football and cross country will be able to begin practice on Sept. 2 with the first competition slated for Sept. 26. Soccer and volleyball would see its first practices on Sept. 8 and competition beginning Oct. 2.
 
“This was a challenging decision for our membership to make,” stated NSIC Commissioner Erin Lind. “For the last several months, our membership has been working tirelessly to prepare for the fall sports season, including developing the resumption of athletic principles, revamping schedules and creating competition disruption plans.
 
“We remain optimistic that we can safely conduct a fall sports season and moving the start date of competition will give us the best chance to give our student-athletes the experience they deserve.”
 
The health and safety of student-athletes, athletics personnel and greater campus communities in the NSIC is paramount. Given the information from the medical and scientific community, and the number of uncertainties and limitations involving local and state regulations, it was decided to adjust fall start dates to help campuses and communities continue to address the public health crisis.
 
Making this decision now permits campuses to focus solely on reopening safely for their broader campus communities. The challenge of preparing for a fall sports season amidst the present uncertainties should not affect overall institutional reopening plans nor the health and safety of the wider campus community. 
 
“As a campus we’re focused on a successful fall semester for all of our students, faculty and staff,” Augustana Director of Athletics Josh Morton said. “We believe this delayed start to competition can help us ensure a safe start to the academic and athletics year.  It also lets us continue to learn more about the pandemic while giving us time to continue to monitor the situation. 
 
“Our guiding principle from day one has been to do what we can to allow our student-athletes the opportunity to compete, but we won’t compromise their health and safety or our coaches and staff. As we look at things today, this delayed start is that opportunity.”
 
Under the plan, the Vikings football team will host four home games while playing four on the road. The season opens on Sept. 26 at Bemidji State with the home opener slated for Oct. 10 against Upper Iowa.
 
Viking soccer will now play five home matches and six road contests in the adjusted schedule. The opening weekend as Augustana hosts Bemidji State on Oct. 2 and Minnesota Crookston on Oct. 4.
 
The Augustana volleyball team will play eight home matches and seven road matches. After opening the season at Minot State on Oct. 2, the Vikings make their home debut on Oct. 9 and 10 hosting MSU Moorhead and Northern State.
 
“Athletics is a vital aspect of all 16 of our campus communities and we owe it to our student-athletes to exhaust all options that will result in an opportunity for them to compete in their sport,” added Lind. “We are optimistic that remedies to manage the virus and minimize spread will improve over time, which would provide a more consistent season and positive experience for our student-athletes. Although we are not able to guarantee this given the uncertain nature of the virus, we are committed to exploring all options.”
 
The NSIC will continue to monitor the landscape and conditions surrounding the pandemic, locally, regionally, and nationally, and make any decisions or announcements at a later date, as necessary.
 

–GoAugie.com–