July 13, 7:40 p.m.
(WTVA) — Community colleges across Mississippi want to play football this fall, and they may do it even if the national governing body for those sports doesn't agree.
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) decided Monday to move football, soccer and most other fall sports to the spring semester to protect students from the possible spread of the coronavirus.
Open this link for more details bout NJCAA's plan.
"This is not a perfect situation, but this is as close to perfection that we can get right now," said NJCAA president and CEO Christopher Parker.
Shortly after the announcement, the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges (MACJC) announced its representative abstained from the final vote.
"While we are very concerned about the health and safety of our student-athletes, personnel, and fans, we believe they are best served by waiting for other conferences and organizations to make a final decision regarding fall sports," said the organization in a statement.
Some at Mississippi community colleges have not ruled out breaking away from the NJCAA and playing a fall schedule independently.
If that happens, those schools would not be eligible to play for a national championship.
For the moment, it's not clear when Mississippi's community colleges will make a final decision on how to proceed.
Original story below
(WTVA) - The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has decided to move a majority of fall sports to the spring semester to protect students from the possible spread of the coronavirus.
This includes football and soccer.
The NJCAA oversees athletics at community colleges throughout the United States.
There is a possibility the community colleges in Mississippi (MACJC) could decide to play during the fall semester.
If MACJC does play during the fall semester, its community colleges would not be eligible for national championships.
This new schedule shifts winter sports, such as basketball, and minor adjustments made to spring sports, such as baseball and softball.
