Dear Colgate Community,
A short-time ago, the Patriot League released an announcement of its decision to suspend all championship and non-championship competitions for the fall season. Conditioning, strength training, and other practice opportunities in all sports will be permitted provided health and safety conditions can be developed to support such activities.
A decision of this magnitude was made after much deliberation and examination by the member institutions in the league. Due to the many complex logistics pertaining to the prevention of COVID-19 in athletics, further complicated by the element of travel for games, the presidents and superintendents determined this to be the best option for the health and safety of our students and our communities.
Decisions about winter sports competition will be made at a later date.
The league is committed to exploring creative approaches and alternatives to providing future competitive experiences to our fall sport student-athletes, including the possibility of conducting fall sport competition and championships in the second semester of this academic year. While the Patriot League has yet to release official guidance in this respect, our hope is that we will be able to move forward with a solid plan for these sports in the weeks ahead. Vice President and Director of Athletics Nicki Moore will be working through next steps for our student-athletes.
Vice President Nicki Moore noted in her statement that Colgate has a long history of athletics. As a former student-athlete myself, and as the president of this institution that values the scholar-athlete experience, I understand the disappointment that will be felt by the student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans in our community. I very much look forward — as I am sure many of you do — to the resumption of athletic competition as soon as it is safe to do so.
Sincerely,
Brian W. Casey
President