We’ve got some unfortunate news to share from the Sunshine State as Florida Tech has announced the school has been forced to eliminate its football program due to the financial impact brought on by the coronavirus.

The school is also being forced to eliminate jobs and furlough employees due to the “unprecedented economic uncertainty” brought on by the coronavirus.

Florida Institute of Technology President Dwayne McCay issued the following statement on Monday.

“As I have continued to share with you, these are difficult times for our university,” McCay said via a prepared statement. “Indeed, all of higher education is struggling to deal with the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the uncertainty that accompanies a global disruption to daily life. Some universities will no doubt close. Florida Tech, however, has plans to persevere.”

The Florida Tech football program was founded in 2011 and played its first game during the 2013 season. The Panther competed in the Gulf South Conference. During the program’s history, the Panthers went 44-35 overall and 25-26 in conference play.

The program also won the 2013 ECAC Futures Bowl Game, which was the only bowl game the program appeared in during its existence.

“The unprecedented uncertainty created by COVID-19 makes these moves prudent, but no less painful,” McCay added. “We must do what is necessary to preserve resources critical to our educational mission and ensure our ability to successfully serve students when face-to-face instruction resumes this fall. I appreciate each of you, and I am humbled by your hard work and sacrifice.”