Women’s Basketball Cancels Remainder of 2020-21 Season

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Women’s Basketball Cancels Remainder of 2020-21 Season

DALLAS (SMU) – The SMU women's basketball team has decided to not play the remainder of the 2020-21 season due to health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19.

Potential virus-related issues including the possibility of isolation, quarantine and season disruptions resulted in a decision by the student-athletes to opt out of the 2020-21 season. While all agreed that SMU had taken all possible steps and precautions to keep them healthy and safe, ultimately the women decided that the totality of the circumstances was resulting in an in-season experience that they did not wish to prolong.

"This was not a decision our student-athletes took lightly," said Rick Hart, SMU Director of Athletics. "It was a difficult decision for them to make. That said, we support them, as we have supported the choices of our student-athletes in all sports whether they have elected to compete or to opt out. Our priority is their health, safety and wellbeing. We look forward to our women's basketball program resuming competition in 2021-22."

Other SMU programs will continue to compete as scheduled and are not impacted by this decision.

[horsemanx]

I guess that's one way to avoid having to be coached by Travis Mays.

[mustangxc]

0-6 to 0-25 was a sure thing. This is SMU hypocrisy to the highest degree. I'm embarrassed to have that program associated with my university. Fire Mays, Fire Hart!

[Charleston Pony]

Only our players and possibly their families and closest friends know whether this decision was based entirely on Covid concerns but considering everything even we have heard about Coach Mays and his program, it is easy to support the players on this.

[mustangxc]

I support cancelling the season for player safety. The issue is it is not COVID-19 related. The true player safety comes from being away from the monster that is Travis Mays. SMU saying that it is cancelling the season out of concern for player safety is a farce and hypocrisy to the highest degree. I wish SMU would fire Mays and Hart today.

[tristatecoog]

Why does the women's team have "health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19" but the men don't?

Duke's ladies team also cancelled its season on Christmas Day. Maybe like one of its parents said about the Duke cancellation, this [adversity] will help the team to grow and provide them with inner-strength, burn and drive for next season.

https://abc11.com/duke-basketball-covid ... s/9122020/

[ponyte]

We have a women's basketball team?

[AustinPerson]

If a tree falls in a forest...

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

My first thoughts were how entitled these players think they are and how spineless Hart is for allowing them do this.

But then I realized it's probably 100% because of Mays - which of course is even more of an indictment on Hart.

The whole thing is a toxic situation no matter how you slice it - but with the players opting out I imagine it buys Mays a free pass for the lost season. Great.

[GrapevineMustang]

There are good high school coaches who would take the job for half his salary, would develop the current players and deliver talented players.
Start the search now.

[PerunaPunch]

A convenient out, I suppose. The word "spineless" comes to mind. Apply it to whomever you want.

[Lefty]

Why does the women's team have "health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19" but the men don't?

That was my first thought too. But it doesn't say they face different issues -- the players opted out. Not a school or athletic department decision.

[Mexmustang]

If it is truly their coach, then Hart needs to go first! He didn't dare deal with a toxic situation. But, for some reason it also seems more like a couple of trouble makers on the team that don't like the coach and want to take advantage of the situation. Again, Hart simply needs to go. Then, the players need to not have their year to year scholarships renewed this spring. We can hide behind the rules also.

[mustangxc]

When a coach tells the players they should kill themselves I don't think the players are the troublemakers.

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-bas ... -18-season

[Bergermeister]

Disband. Start-up softball.