Bowling Green State University will play a six-game schedule starting on Nov. 4 based on an unanimous decision made by the Mid-American Conference Council of Presidents earlier today (Sept. 25).
The schedule involving only conference teams will end on either Dec. 18 or 19 the date of the MAC Football Championship game. The actual schedule will be released at a later date.
In a statement, Satish Tripathi, president of the University of Buffalo and chair of the presidents council, said the decision was made after extensive consultation with Mid-American medical advisors. “As a result, our Conference’s medical advisors have established comprehensive protocols and procedures to safeguard our student-athletes during practice and competition,” he said in a statement posted on BGSU athletics news website.
The Conference will implement a COVID-19 testing program requiring four antigen tests per week with all positive tests needing confirmation with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Any student athlete with a positive test will enter a cardiac screening protocol. The MAC’s approved COVID-19 testing protocols, including four tests per week, will begin Monday, October 5. The complete set of protocols will be released next week.
One of the primary changes that led to reconsideration was the availability of tests and timeliness of receiving test results across the Conference, in addition to the changes and improvements of testing protocols. The MAC is establishing criteria relative to contest interruptions/cancelations, monitoring and reporting of test results as well as other COVID-19 regulations consistent with the NCAA resocialization guidelines. All football return to play is subject to national, state and local health guidelines.
No general public attendance or tailgating will be allowed at games. The participation of Marching Band, Dance, Cheer and Spirit Squads at football games will be guided by Conference protocols at institutional discretion consistent with public health guidance.
In a statement Bob Moosbrugger, BGSU director of athletics, said: “BGSU Athletics is thrilled for the student-athletes and coaches to have the opportunity to return to competition safely. Thank you to the MAC Council of Presidents and MAC Medical Committee for your leadership throughout this process. I especially want to thank President Rodney Rogers for his support and leadership throughout this pandemic. This special opportunity will not be taken for granted. We will continue our diligent path to our safe return to competition.”
Head Football Coach Scot Loeffler stated: “I’m thrilled for the opportunity the MAC has provided to our team. We would like to thank President Rodney Rogers and Athletics Director Bob Moosbrugger for their efforts to make this possible. Our medical team and our team physician Dr. Jeff Noftz have been outstanding in their guidance to us. Our student-athletes have been working hard to show that they deserve a chance to play football this fall. We will continue to attack every day with relentless effort so that we can make BG proud. We can’t wait to kick off the season!”
The Mid-American Conference suspended fall sports on August 8. Football is the only sport being resumed with all others tentatively scheduled to return during the spring sports season when their respective NCAA Championships will occur.
