Add the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) to the growing list of leagues to put the 2020-21 season on the hold. The conference, which features 12 Historically Black Colleges and Universities from Lincoln, PA to Orangeburg, SC, announced Monday afternoon that the upcoming season and world-renowned tournament have been canceled due to Covid-19 concerns.
“Unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to challenge the conference’s ability to see a clear path to move forward collectively. The impact to health and wellness, community concerns, as well as the economic ramifications are real,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams. “I want to commend our Board of Directors for exemplifying courageous leadership in college sports to ensure the well-being of the CIAA as well as the health and safety of our student-athletes and communities.”
Schools will not be allowed to play non-conference games past January 9th unless contracts have been signed.
The 2021 CIAA Tournament was scheduled to be held in late February 2021 in Baltimore, MD – ending a 15 year run in Charlotte, the home of CIAA headquarters. The conference also announced that the 2021 volleyball season will not take place as well.
Going forward, the financial damage of no athletic events the current year will be hard-hitting for all the schools, but data continues to show that now just isn’t the best time for these events to take place. Whether it is the small stage or bigger stage, as many have stated the last few weeks, these tough decisions have to be made and hopefully before it‘s not too late.