BOULDER, Colo. -- CU Boulder's athletic director is speaking out a day after the Pac-12 Conference postponed all sports through the end of the year, ending CU's football season before it even had a chance to begin.
“It was a difficult and painful decision,” CU Athletic Director Rick George said. “We've had medical advice along the way to help guide our decisions."
Many expected fall sports to be canceled, but not every sport saw the hit coming.
“Shock and disbelief,” CU men's basketball coach Tad Boyle said.
Boyle was not thrilled with his sport also getting pushed back.
“If we're truly, truly committed to our student athletes, I think we have to look at each sport and each season a little differently. I don't know why basketball was put into this," Boyle said. "It could've been played. But now that option is off the table."
No one in the athletic department has tested positive for the virus for three weeks and that includes the basketball program, which only adds to Boyle's frustration.
“If that decision had to be made in September or October, I get it. I don't know why it had to be made in August,” Boyle added.
All sports will now go to spring, and George is adamant every sport will get a season, however delayed. But that doesn’t mean the programs won’t see layoffs and furloughs.
“Those are going to be tough. Those are gut wrenching because they do impact people. But we won't eliminate any sports,” George said.
For now, it’s time-out for CU sports as coaches and players are left to wait while trying to stay healthy.
