Texas Tech announced that the Big 12 has canceled the remaining winter and spring sports seasons for concern of the novel coronavirus. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt made this statement:
“The safety and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, fans and staff will always be our top priority,” Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said. “This is an unprecedented situation we are facing as a nation. Athletics brings so many of us together and there is no better fan base than here at Texas Tech. We’re disappointed for our student-athletes, coaches and fans, but we understand the magnitude of this outbreak and its impact on society as a whole.”
Texas Tech announces that Texas Tech will refund all baseball and softball single-game tickets and pro-rated refunds for all baseball season tickets and annual seat contributions.
Regarding the partially lost seasons, that’s a bit more tricky. WatchStadium’s Jeff Goodman tweeted that student-athletes in spring sports may receive an extra year of eligibility. There’s a distinction between winter sports, like basketball, and spring sports, like baseball and softball.
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.
Committee will also discuss issues for winter sport student-athletes.
Players in spring sports get another year of eligibility.
NCAA looking into what to do with those who played winter sports.
This is great news, on some level, but this also creates its own issues because these seniors would return, playing time is obviously at a premium and even then, does this also create a situation where the freshmen and others that are looking to get more playing time go seek that playing time elsewhere. This result most likely won’t be all cotton candy and Snickers bars and even then, I’d add that some seniors may simply want turn professional (whether that’s playing sports or otherwise) and not come back.
The Big 12 also announced that team activities, whether they be organized or voluntary, as well as team meetings, have been suspended until March 29th, which means that football and possibly volleyball and soccer practices are to be halted until the end of the month.
Impossible to put into words.
To the members of our team and to our Red Raider family, there’s nothing else we can say but thank you.
Our sport can be a sport of adversity. This is a unique challenge, but one we are equipped to overcome.
See you soon, and Wreck ‘Em. pic.twitter.com/4joJfWgZhT
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) March 14, 2020
The last two days have been filled with a whirlwind of emotion. Our season may be over, but our love and appreciation for our team and our fans will never end.
⁰Thank you, Red Raider nation, for your amazing support this season. We can’t wait to get back out there. pic.twitter.com/z0GYhtBv4p
— Texas Tech Softball (@TexasTechSB) March 14, 2020
This isn’t the way we imagined this season ending, but some things are bigger than us.
Red Raider nation, thank you for your support this year. We’ll be back.
🔴#WreckEm⚫️ pic.twitter.com/aQN1XdskEu
— Texas Tech Women’s Golf (@TexasTechWGolf) March 13, 2020
It’s been a tough couple of days, but thank you to our fans for always supporting us through the good and the bad.
Our season ended sooner than we wanted it to, but our team will be ready to get back on the court and compete. We can’t wait to see you soon.
🔴#WreckEm⚫️ pic.twitter.com/QL0fV0boSM
— Texas Tech Women’s Tennis (@TexasTechWTEN) March 13, 2020
There are no words to describe the last 48 hours. We’re experiencing an unprecedented event with consequences beyond our control.
Red Raider nation, thank you for your unwavering support this year. We look forward to competing again for you and for each other.
🔴#WreckEm⚫️ pic.twitter.com/LtRrnMXMZN
— Texas Tech Men’s Tennis (@TexasTechMTEN) March 13, 2020