University of Illinois Statement Following Today’s Decisions Cancelling Competitions
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The University of Illinois supports decisions by the Big Ten Conference and NCAA in cancelling all remaining winter and spring athletic competitions through the end of the current academic year.
A moratorium has been placed on all recruiting, both on and off campus. In addition, Illinois programs will not conduct practices until further notice. The DIA will be communicating directly with student-athletes in the coming days about their academic and athletic obligations for the remainder of the semester.
Future announcements will be made regarding special events and other non-athletic activities sponsored by DIA.
These decisions are based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events and gatherings do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of participating in such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.
STATEMENT FROM UI DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS JOSH WHITMAN:
“These last 24 hours have been heartbreaking. I have such respect and appreciation for our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. I watch every day with admiration as they strengthen their bodies, their minds, and their relationships, all in the pursuit of excellence. There is so much work and sacrifice that occurs away from the eyes of the public, so much effort given so that they shine in those precious few moments each year when the lights come on, the cameras come into focus, and the stakes are high. Today, in what has been perhaps the most challenging day of my professional career, we took away those moments for a significant number of our student-athletes. I know they are devastated; I am as well.
“The hardest decisions require you to resolve inner conflict between what you value most and what you value at the moment. Like many of you, I enjoy nothing more than watching our young men and women compete in the orange and blue. What we value most, however, is our students. And at the end of the day, we must act in the best interests of their health and well-being – and, in this case, in the best interests of the health of our local, regional, and national communities as well. As much as I want our student-athletes to experience the joy of competition, feel the euphoria of victory, and learn from the despair of defeat, recent events are an important reminder that life is bigger than sports. Our focus remains on being healthy, contributing members of our many overlapping communities as we work collectively to address the challenges presented by this terrible virus.
“With the situation being so fluid and events happening so quickly, our plans are evolving. We will have multiple touch points with our student-athletes over the next 24 hours to discuss this decision and its ramifications, to hear their questions and concerns, and to provide comfort and closure as we begin to move forward. For the people most intimately involved in our programs, the wounds caused by the necessity of today’s decision will not heal overnight, but we are committed to growing closer together as an Illini family, supporting each other through these difficult moments, and emerging stronger on the other side.”
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The University of Illinois supports decisions by the Big Ten Conference and NCAA in cancelling all remaining winter and spring athletic competitions through the end of the current academic year.
A moratorium has been placed on all recruiting, both on and off campus. In addition, Illinois programs will not conduct practices until further notice. The DIA will be communicating directly with student-athletes in the coming days about their academic and athletic obligations for the remainder of the semester.
Future announcements will be made regarding special events and other non-athletic activities sponsored by DIA.
These decisions are based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events and gatherings do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of participating in such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.
STATEMENT FROM UI DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS JOSH WHITMAN:
“These last 24 hours have been heartbreaking. I have such respect and appreciation for our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. I watch every day with admiration as they strengthen their bodies, their minds, and their relationships, all in the pursuit of excellence. There is so much work and sacrifice that occurs away from the eyes of the public, so much effort given so that they shine in those precious few moments each year when the lights come on, the cameras come into focus, and the stakes are high. Today, in what has been perhaps the most challenging day of my professional career, we took away those moments for a significant number of our student-athletes. I know they are devastated; I am as well.
“The hardest decisions require you to resolve inner conflict between what you value most and what you value at the moment. Like many of you, I enjoy nothing more than watching our young men and women compete in the orange and blue. What we value most, however, is our students. And at the end of the day, we must act in the best interests of their health and well-being – and, in this case, in the best interests of the health of our local, regional, and national communities as well. As much as I want our student-athletes to experience the joy of competition, feel the euphoria of victory, and learn from the despair of defeat, recent events are an important reminder that life is bigger than sports. Our focus remains on being healthy, contributing members of our many overlapping communities as we work collectively to address the challenges presented by this terrible virus.
“With the situation being so fluid and events happening so quickly, our plans are evolving. We will have multiple touch points with our student-athletes over the next 24 hours to discuss this decision and its ramifications, to hear their questions and concerns, and to provide comfort and closure as we begin to move forward. For the people most intimately involved in our programs, the wounds caused by the necessity of today’s decision will not heal overnight, but we are committed to growing closer together as an Illini family, supporting each other through these difficult moments, and emerging stronger on the other side.”
