Uncertainty has most definitely been the word of 2020 so far thanks to COVID as everyone from Power Five and other various college football leagues across all levels and state associations are cancelling football in the fall and hoping to play in the spring.
The COVID pandemic has brought some schools to the harsh financial reality of cutting sports. Stanford, a university with millions upon millions in endowments, recently made the decision to cut 11 varsity sports programs and countless other schools are facing similar decisions.
However, all is not doom and gloom for college athletics in 2020. One HBCU school is planning to add a total of 12 new sports programs, including football.
Bluefield State hasn't played football since 1980, but that is about to change as football and 11 other sports will be added to the 10 current Bluefield State athletic programs.
"Fielding a football team after such a long absence is a huge step forward. To do this now is our way of saying there is life after COVID for this College and our community," Bluefield State President Robert Capehart shared.
"Making this commitment to these young people also means making a commitment to doing all the things that go with a full-bore athletics program: new and improved facilities, upgraded training, residences and meals."
Since recruiting will be a huge undertaking, interim athletics director Derrick Price added, "We're hiring for these new sports now. I'm prioritizing coaches with proven abilities to recruit. We will target good student athletes with the goal of being competitive immediately."
In addition to football, Bluefield State is also adding the following women's sports; soccer, golf, acrobatics and tumbling, swimming, bowling, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field. Men's sports will be adding; indoor and outdoor track, swimming and wrestling.
"Adding these sports will increase opportunities for more students and add a vibrancy that we've lacked for too long. It also strengthens our relationships in the community as we partner on the use of various facilities," Capehart added.
See the school's full release here.