SEC schools to vote May 22 on whether to reopen athletic facilities

Southeastern Conference universities are expected to vote May 22 on whether to open their athletic facilities on June 1 or to extend the suspension due to COVID-19.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has not confirmed the vote but mentioned that the league must make a decision soon.

“At some point prior to May 31, we’re going to have to make a decision,” Sankey told ESPN. “You’ve seen information comes out when decisions are made, as opposed to prospecting about what may or may not happen. I think that those who suggest that this particular date or that particular date miss that we’re meeting regularly with our membership to make decisions.”

The SEC presidents have been keeping in contact with each other through weekly conference call to discuss the possible reopening of facilities. One SEC university president has already proclaimed that they will be playing football this season.

“I’m Jay Gogue, president of Auburn University, and I just wanted to chat with you for a few minutes,” he said in a YouTube video. “We’re going to open classes this fall. We’re going to have fraternity and sorority activities. We’re going to have more than 500 club activities that will be underway with student participation and leadership. We’re going to have convocation. We’re going to have Popsicles and pizza with the president.We’re going to have a football season this year. We’re going to have all the activities that we have every fall.”

The NCAA shut down all sports in March and many fans are eager to get sports back up and running. The vote on May 22 will give an indication whether fall sports will be a possibility this year.