(As of Feb. 16, 2021)
The health, well-being, and safety of all student-athletes, faculty, staff and employees is imperative. USC Aiken Athletics has several links below to ensure everyone has the most up-to-date information prior to athletic contests beginning.
PBC Return To Play Policy (2/12/2021)
Return To Athletics Policy (2/12/2021)
NCAA COVID-19 Page (12/29/2020)
COVID-19 Screening Flow Chart (2/1/2021)
F.A.Q. (2/1/2021)
USC Aiken COVID-19 Information Page (1/6/2021)
Resocialization Of Collegiate Sports. - NCAA Checklist (1/6/2021)
Core Principles Of Resocialization Of Collegiate Sport (1/14/2021)
Core Principles Of Resocialization Of Basketball (2/15/2021)
Dear USC Aiken Pacer Fan,
Our fall semester is nearing the hallway point and it has been extremely unusual to say the least. It has been gratifying to hear from so many of our loyal fan base and to know that you want to see our student athletes as much as we want to see you. We still do not have a definitive answer about our basketball season and likely will not have concrete plans for the next few weeks since that decision will be based on developments in the pandemic.
Last month the Peach Belt Conference announced a delayed start to competitions for the fall sports (soccer, volleyball, cross-country) and the NCAA has postponed the DII national championship events for those fall sports. Coming on the heels of postponements of games for softball, baseball and golf last spring, this is tough. Our student-athletes have proven to be resilient. Even with the disruptions to academic and athletic life last spring, our department posted a 3.2 cumulative grade point average for nearly 200 student-athletes. So we know they can handle challenges. That is one of the great lessons learned through athletics.
As the NCAA “return to sport” guidelines change based on the ever-changing pandemic, schools are required to follow the modifications. We are allowing student-athletes to opt out of participation due to concerns about contracting COVID-19 and honoring their athletic scholarship for the academic year. Only three student-athletes to date, all international students, have chosen to stay home this year. The majority of students, even those facing some hardships in their own family, very much want to be back in Aiken.
Our student-athletes have indicated an eagerness to get back to some semblance of normal and we have been somewhat surprised at how excited they seem to be and how quickly they address the simplest of pre-participation tasks required by their coaches, the PBC and the NCAA before practices begin. If you are interested, we have a COVID link at the top of our athletics website with current information.
Once the NCAA and PBC provide us schedules, we will make a determination on how to proceed with protocols for fans to enjoy the events. Right now, the governor’s order has limited the “total number of employees, customers, patrons, suppliers, vendors, visitors, or other persons present for or in attendance at the Gathering shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the location’s occupancy limit as determined by the fire marshal, if applicable, or two hundred fifty (250) persons, whichever is less.” If, and when, the order is lifted, decisions to open to the public will be made locally and will be submitted to the state offices for approval.
I’m sure we all look forward to a return to normalcy, but in the meantime, stay safe and be well. Go Pacers!
Jim Herlihy
