The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) sent out a press release on the morning of July 28, 2020, suspending all fall sports in the upcoming season due to concerns of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This cancellation will affect football, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, field hockey, women’s volleyball, women’s cross country and men’s cross country.

Rob Chesney, director of athletics at Montclair State University, made a statement in the release.

“The decision made unanimously by the member institutions to suspend fall sports was a difficult one,” Chesney said. “We are all disappointed that this will not be a typical season and will continue working hard to provide our student-athletes with a positive experience this year. We are also committed to providing all fall student-athletes with a meaningful season in the spring of 2021 and look forward to planning those opportunities in the near future.”

The cancellation includes all fall sports contests and league championships for the fall 2020 semester. The NJAC is looking at every option to allow fall sports to compete in the spring semester while allowing them to train and practice in the fall semester.

Michael Ceceri, a sophomore offensive lineman for Montclair State’s football team, commented on his season being taken away due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The virus has taken a toll on all of our fall sports but hasn’t taken away what matters most to athletes, the ability to adapt, deal with adversity and overcome any challenge put in front of us as one big…