After discussions with mental health professionals and university leadership, and in consultation with Spartan student-athletes and staff, Michigan State athletics will resume competition this weekend, both at home and on the road. Information remains subject to change.
“The safety and physical and mental well-being of our students and staff is the primary focus of Michigan State athletics,” said MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller. “In consultation with mental health professionals and in conversations with our student-athletes it became apparent that a return to practice and competition is a crucial part of their recovery. Student-athletes were given an active voice in the decision to return to competition, as well as the autonomy to make their own individual choices about participation.
“Athletics can be a rallying point for a community in need of healing, a fact many of our student-athletes have mentioned to me. The opportunity to represent our entire community has never felt greater. I also recognize that everyone grieves in their own unique manner, and there are some who aren’t ready to return to athletic events. Those feelings are incredibly valid, and as Coach Izzo so eloquently stated last night, I hope that we will all focus on taking care of one another.”
The women’s basketball team will host Maryland on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m. as originally scheduled.
The Michigan State-Michigan men’s basketball game will be played as scheduled on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. The decision was made following discussions between Michigan State athletics director Alan Haller and Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel.
Michigan State men’s tennis will not travel to Virginia for matches at Virginia Tech and VCU as originally planned. Instead, the Spartans will remain home and host Drake Saturday at 10 a.m., in a rescheduled event which was initially slated for Wednesday, Feb. 15.
Michigan State hockey traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, on Wednesday in advance of its Friday and Saturday contests.
The following teams are traveling or are scheduled to travel on Thursday for their weekend road contests: softball (Elon Phoenix Invitational – Elon, N.C., Feb. 17-19), baseball (Multiple opponents – Arizona, Feb. 17-20) and women’s golf (Moon Golf Invitational –…
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