Division II Morehouse College canceled its 2020 football season Friday due to coronavirus concerns.
The Historically Black College in Atlanta is believed to the first scholarship football program to take this step.
“Like all of the decisions we’ve made related to COVID-19, this was a difficult one but was made with the health and well-being of our students and community in mind,” university president David A. Thomas wrote on the school’s website, adding that teams could not safely travel while maintaining social distancing guidelines recommended by the CDC.
“Sporting events also invite individuals to our campus who will not be subject to the testing and monitoring that we plan to implement for our students, faculty, and staff,” added Thomas, who said the school will honor all athletic scholarships.
The Maroon Tigers, who compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, finished 4-6 in 2019.
The school also canceled the fall season for the cross country program.