(Lansing, MI) - There won’t be high school football in Michigan this fall.  The Michigan High School Athletic Association decided August 14 to move the football season to the spring because of the risk of spreading COVID-19 from such a high contact sport.

“At the end of the day, we did everything we could to find a path forward for football this fall,” said MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl.  Seasons for other fall sports like volleyball and golf are still on for now but MHSAA is expected to decide their status by the end of the week.  “Decisions have to be made on our other sports as well, but none of those carry the same close, consistent and face to face contact as football,” Uyl said.

Matt Johnson, New Buffalo High School Athletic Director and Head Football Coach for the Bison, said players were informed of the decision at practice on Friday.  “Obviously, they were a little bit disappointed but also glad to know they at least will have an opportunity to have a season especially our seniors,” he said.  Johnson said he reacted to the MHSAA decision with mixed emotions, considering the rich tradition of football during the fall while realizing public safety is the top priority.  He said a spring season for football could leave New Buffalo and other small districts without enough players if some of their student athletes switch to baseball or some other sport during the final months of the school year.  Johnson said the delay could also serve as an advantage, though, by giving football programs with already thin rosters additional time to find more players.

“It is what it is.  It’s out of our control.   I told the kids we can only control our attitude and effort and right now our efforts need to be on playing in the spring,” Johnson said.