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ST. GEORGE — Dixie State football’s Division I debut will have to wait.
The Trailblazers announced Wednesday that their first season as a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) independent has been postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The newly ascendant former Division II school follows the same decision by the Big Sky, which was postponed FCS football last Friday, as well as FBS conferences ranging from the Mountain West to the Big Ten and Pac-12. The Trailblazers had four games canceled or postponed last week by the Big Sky’s decision, including the previously scheduled Sept. 5 opener at in-state rival Southern Utah.
“First of all, I am very proud of our student-athletes and how they have responded to these uncertain circumstances,” Dixie State coach Paul Peterson said. “They bought in to the prospect of playing and stayed positive, worked tremendously hard and prepared for a season that we all wish we could play.
“As time has gone by, our options to play have dwindled, despite our university leaders best efforts otherwise. Our student-athlete’s physical and mental health are our top concerns at this time. We will use this semester to develop in the classroom and to continue to serve our community. I hope that the nation can heal, our government leaders can make good decisions and we can all get better as a result these trying times.”
Other leagues from the Division II Greater Northwest Athletic Conference to the FCS Missouri Valley Conference and non-scholarship Pioneer Football League also moved the schedule prior to Dixie State’s cancelled fall season. When fellow FCS and WAC newcomer Tarleton State postponed the season Monday, it seemed to signal the beginning of the end for the Trailblazers.
“As difficult as a decision like this is, it is the right call,” Dixie State athletic director Jason Boothe said. “There are so many factors involved, but our top priority that we cannot waiver on is the health and well-being of our student-athletes.
“As our schedule of games this fall evaporated the last couple weeks, we tried to get something together so our athletes could play, but as we went through each option, there were still too many unknowns and big questions. While we felt comfortable with playing in terms of the safety of our student-athletes, ultimately, the only thing to do was to postpone to the spring when hopefully we can enjoy a much safe environment.”
The Trailblazers' other sports were set to debut in the Western Athletic Conference. The status of all WAC fall sports has been postponed until Sept. 10 in women’s soccer and Sept. 16 in men’s soccer and women’s volleyball.
With the move, BYU — which competes as an independent in the Football Bowl Subdivision — is the only in-state football team that has not postponed or canceled the 2020 season. The Cougars have three games on the schedule.
