MAC Softball

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

The Mid-American Conference dropped a bomb shell yesterday afternoon. Starting with the 2020-21 school year the MAC will not have a post-season championship tournaments in softball, baseball, men's and women's soccer and tennis, women's lacrosse, and field hockey. The post-season tournaments in these sports will not resume any sooner that the 2024-25 school year. The decision was made due to the financial situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MAC also announced that changes will be made in the men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball post-season championship tournaments.

MTD, Sr.

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

The Mid-American Conference dropped a bomb shell yesterday afternoon. Starting with the 2020-21 school year the MAC will not have a post-season championship tournaments in softball, baseball, men's and women's soccer and tennis, women's lacrosse, and field hockey. The post-season tournaments in these sports will not resume any sooner that the 2024-25 school year. The decision was made due to the financial situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MAC also announced that changes will be made in the men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball post-season championship tournaments.

MTD, Sr.

There is a lot more to this than COVID-19 impacts. Many MAC schools have been hurting financially for years. Some schools can't make any more cuts to programs because they are at the minimum men's sports allowed and cutting women's sports almost immediately gets a Title IX complaint.

As an example, EMU's dropping of 4 sports a couple years ago, was designed to save the school about 2.2 million per year, but resulted in Title IX complaints regarding cutting softball and women's tennis. Women's tennis was already reinstated and lacrosse is going to be added to replace softball.

The MAC has been struggling financially for years. Buffalo also cut sports a couple years ago. Akron cut sports yesterday and BG is cutting baseball.