UAF opts in to postponed athletics conference seasons

November 13, 2020

University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Dan White announced today that the Alaska Nanooks are opting in to postponed fall intercollegiate athletics seasons.

“What this means for UAF is that we are not closing the door on the possibility of competition if we deem it safe to do so after the holidays,” White said in an announcement to UAF employees and students today. “Opting in does not obligate UAF to compete, but it preserves our right to do so when the time comes and we feel it can be done safely.”

White and UAF athletics director Keith Champagne will be available to answer press questions about the decision at 1:15 p.m. today via Zoom.

The announcement comes on the heels of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s decision to move forward with conference-only men’s and women’s basketball schedules beginning in January. Both of the Nanooks basketball teams compete in the GNAC, as do the women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country running teams.

UAF’s hockey team competes in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The conference is asking WCHA teams to decide by Nov. 17 whether they will participate in this year’s season. UAF intends to take the same approach with Nanooks hockey as it has with its other teams.

Many conferences nationwide postponed fall and winter seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. White said UAF will evaluate pandemic conditions closer to the start of play and throughout the spring before committing to participating in competition.

“If we deem it safe to play in the new year but the situation changes, we reserve the right to withdraw before or at any time during the season,” he said. “The health and well-being of our student-athletes and our community remains our priority as we seek to continue to meet the various areas of our mission.”

NOTE TO EDITORS: Journalists can join the 1:15 p.m. press availability by visiting this Zoom link. Press will be placed in the waiting room until admitted by the moderator. The event will also be recorded and available for download after the event at http://bit.ly/uaf-press-download.