Southern Athletic Association cancels football along with all fall sports

The Southern Athletic Association has officially canceled its football season just as many other divisions have this week due to the growing numbers of COVID-19 cases.

SAA Commissioner Jay Gardiner announced the decision Thursday.

“The highest priority at each institution is the health and wellbeing of our campus communities, student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and spectators,” Gardiner said in a statement. “As the pandemic evolves, the SAA will continue to monitor the situation and intends to resume fall sports competition in early 2021.”

The SAA not only canceled the 2020 football season, it canceled all fall sports.

The cancellation of the SAA football season hits close to home for Mississippi because Millsaps College is in that division. Millsaps Athletic Director Aaron Pelch supports the move.

“As a former coach and college athlete myself, I understand the work and time each athlete has invested to prepare for their upcoming season. I know the sacrifices each of them make as a student-athlete at Millsaps, ” Pelch said in a statement.

“I am heartbroken over what this announcement means to all of them, their families and their coaches. As I mentioned in today’s letter to our student-athletes, I want them to remember that lessons learned through sports are lessons learned for life, and champions view adversity as opportunity. I hope we all will take this opportunity to grow stronger together on this campus in the fall, and show everyone that champions are made at Millsaps.”

The SAA intends to play sports in the spring but no word yet on when that decision will become official.