Alabama AD Greg Byrne reacts to SEC, NCAA coronavirus-related suspensions, cancelations
By SDS Staff
Published:
The sports community – professional and amateur – continues to process unprecedented measures taken due to the coronavirus outbreak. Cecil Hurt of Tide Sports recently caught up with Greg Byrne to get the Alabama athletic director’s reactions to the NCAA and SEC’s precautionary measures as well as his early thoughts on future UA sporting events.
“Obviously this is one of the most challenging weeks I have ever seen for student-athletes, for our coaches, our staff and our fans,” Byrne told Hurt. “This is a very serious virus that needs to be dealt with and we had to put the safety of everyone in the front of our thoughts.”
Byrne revealed he has been able to talk to a few Alabama student-athlete, praising how they’re handling a difficult situation.
“I haven’t been able to talk to as many of our student-athletes as I would like because many of them left campus on Friday,” Byrne said in the interview. “The ones I did talk with, you could feel their disappointment but also I was impressed with their understanding of the situation.”
The SEC has suspended all athletic activity, including meetings and workouts until April 15. Alabama’s A-Day spring game was scheduled for April 18. Byrne revealed that, unfortunately, he did not have much to share on the status spring football with so much happening over a hectic 48 hours.
“We’ve had very little discussion about that because of everything else, but we understand that there is a need to know among our fans,” Byrne said. “What happens with spring football is going to be a collective discussion, as it has been throughout the week. Every school had ideas but all realized that this (hiatus) was the best decision.
“Timing will be an issue but we have not formally canceled anything at this point while we gather more information.”
With spring sports championships canceled and seasons on hold for the foreseeable future, it was reported that the NCAA’s Council Coordination Committee has agreed to grant relief for the use of a season of competition for student-athletes who have participated in spring sports. Byrne supports the eligibility measure.
“We absolutely support that without a doubt,” Byrne said. “There are still issues to be worked out at the NCAA level but we will assist any of our student-athletes who have the ability to return and the desire to continue their career.”
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
