SPORTS

Big Sky Commissioner Is Unsure When College Sports Will Start

Jul 9, 2020, 12:48 PM | Updated: Apr 26, 2021, 3:29 pm

Weber State Wildcats - Montana Grizzlies...

Courtesy of Robert Casey / Weber State Athletics

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Big Sky Conference Commissioner Tom Wistrcill is confident that college sports will begin but unsure when that will happen.

The Big Sky Commissioner spoke to Colton Pool of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle about the future of college sports in the fall.

The Utes are scheduled to play Big Sky opponent Montana State in non-conference play on Saturday, September 12.

“I don’t like the trends out there right now with the numbers and virus increases you see across the country. That’s not a healthy thing for college athletics,” Wistrcill told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. “This is really unpredictable and things can change rapidly. But we definitely need people to be taking it seriously and for our young people to be safe and smart. That’s why, as I stand here today, I’m 50-50.”

This comes after the Ivy League announced that fall sports has been suspended until at least January 1. Although, the Big Sky doesn’t play any Ivy League schools this season in football, they do have games with power-five teams.

“I think right now, we just have to plea for some patience,” Wistrcill said. “Because we don’t want to make decisions too rapidly and then we would have to backtrack.”

At the same time, Wistrcill believes a lot will have to happen in the coming weeks in order for the season to start on time.

“I get it. Nobody wants to play fall sports more than me,” Wistrcill said, “but there’s a lot that would have to happen from now and then for us to be kicking off on time.”

Weber State is scheduled to open up the 2020 season on the road against Wyoming on Saturday, September 5. Southern Utah is supposed to begin their season at home against Dixie State on September 5.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASportsYou can download and listen to the podcast, here.

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Big Sky Commissioner Is Unsure When College Sports Will Start