“I don’t want to overemphasize the recent studies about the heart damage, but that was just another data point. This is getting to be so serious, and the consequences are so serious that we have to take this decision. I would say it was also clear to us that other conferences were in this conversation and were along the lines of making the same kinds of decisions, particularly the Pac-12 and the Big Ten.”

Still, with other conferences, including fellow Group of Five members Conference USA and the Sun Belt, deciding to play a fall season for now and the massive financial toll that not playing a season will take on the Mountain West’s member schools, Seidel knows the decision isn’t a popular one. Seidel said he’s already heard from some donors saying that they’re reconsidering their financial contributions to the university since there won’t be any football this fall.

“I’ve had some angry emails, and I can understand the frustration,” Seidel said.

But Seidel reiterated that the health of all of the Mountain West’s student-athletes and those around them was at the core of the presidents’ decision.

“I hope (those donors) will reconsider that reconsideration after this passes,” Seidel said. “And I hope that people understand that we are focused on the safety of our students, our fans and our community. That’s the reason we’re doing this. That’s the only reason we would do this.”