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Why canceling our college football season was an easy decision

John R. Broderick is president of Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Camden Wood Selig is the school’s athletic director.

Old Dominion University had never broken rank with the 13 other members of Conference USA on a major issue. We did so last month because we have never before encountered a crisis like this novel coronavirus pandemic.

We announced Aug. 10 that, irrespective of what other schools in Conference USA might do, we were postponing all fall sports. The conference has since announced it will play football this fall without ODU.

While the decision was made with all fall sports in mind, our fans will be most impacted by the loss of football.