University of Massachusetts cancels football season

Six days after the University of Connecticut announced the cancellation of its 2020 fall football season due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the University of Massachusetts officially made the same call for its program.

In a school statement, athletic director Ryan Bamford suggested the Football Bowl Subdivision independent could play in the spring.

"After consulting with university, state and public health officials, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 UMass football season. We have been in constant communication with university leadership and our football staff since March, with the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff remaining our top priority. The continuing challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic posed too great of a risk, and we reached the conclusion that attempting to play a season would not have placed the members of our program in the safest situation possible.

"These times have presented us with extensive uncertainty, and we are disappointed for all the members of our fall sports programs who will not have the opportunity to compete this autumn. We remain hopeful and fully intend to conduct a competitive schedule for our fall sports in the 2021 spring semester."

UMass coach Walt Bell added: 

"I am absolutely heartbroken for our players, our former players, our alumni and our UMass Football community. Our job as coaches and mentors is to provide opportunities for our players, and do everything in our power to not take them away. Today's news was devastating, but we will be resilient and prepared to be our best when our best is required.

"I would like to give an unbelievable amount of gratitude to our medical professionals, our administration, our campus, our athletic training staff and our operations staff for creating one of the safest environments in college football. The testing, the protocols, the risk mitigation, and the execution have been incredible."

Bell also tweeted about a team meeting held on Tuesday where players were informed of the school's decision.