Norfolk State just ended its spring football effort and possibly the entire MEAC’s.
NSU announced on Monday that it has elected to opt-out of the 2021 spring football season. It is now the fourth MEAC football program to opt-out of the spring season, bringing the number of active programs down to five.
“We are disappointed that we will not be able to compete this spring,” NSU AD Melody Webb said in a statement. “Our priority is to always provide a high-quality, holistic academic and athletic experience for all student-athletes, and delivering this news to members of our football program was difficult. Football is a high-impact sport that creates numerous challenges in carrying out a season during this pandemic. After careful consideration with members of our coaching staff, University administration and medical personnel, the health, safety and well-being of our football student-athletes prevailed as the number one factor in this decision.
“This decision will allow our young men to remain safe and prepare academically and athletically for the fall 2021 season.”
Norfolk State head coach Latrell Scott admitted that it was a difficult, but necessary decision to make.
With everything that is going on with the pandemic, we want to make sure that all of our decisions are student-athlete driven. We look forward to being able to compete in the MEAC next fall.”
NSU joins Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman University and North Carolina Central on the sidelines this spring. That leaves Delaware State, Howard, Morgan State, North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State as the remaining MEAC programs that are moving forward with a spring season.
NSU was set to open the season on Feb. 20 at South Carolina State.
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