• Football
  • Boston College Opts Out of Bowl, Shuts Down Football for Rest of 2020

Boston College Opts Out of Bowl, Shuts Down Football for Rest of 2020

Details
Football

Free watches, the latest Xbox or Playstation console and a stack of gift cards from retail sponsors usually await college football players when bowl season rolls around. However, that won't be the case for anyone on Boston College's football roster as BC Director of Athletics Pat Kraft, along with head football coach Jeff Hafley announced that Eagles football has elected not to participate in a bowl game this season.

A statement was released by Kraft, Hafley and the Boston College administration that follows:

"Our student-athletes have sacrificed so much since June to even make this season possible for BC and our fans and now it is time for them to focus on finishing up the semester strong and going home to spend time with their families and loved ones," said Kraft. "Very few teams in the country handled playing in a pandemic better than our student-athletes have and I thank them for all of their hard work and sacrifice to make it through the season. While the team has decided to conclude its season, we have the utmost respect for our ACC bowl partners and we look forward to participating in the postseason again in 2021."

While many programs around the country have struggled to contain COVID-19 and limit the exposure of players to the virus, Boston College has had just one football player test positive for COVID-19 since the team began workouts in June.

"I can't thank our players enough for the sacrifice and commitment they showed to each other, to our team and to our community," said Hafley. "I am so proud to be their coach and I am thankful they now have the opportunity to go home for the first time since June to see their families. The young men in our program and our coaches and staff have been through an incredible six months and the restrictions placed on our student-athletes along with their adherence to strict COVID-19 policies and protocols took a mental and physical toll on them. People may not fully understand just how grueling this season was and our team needs and deserves an extended break to help recharge their minds and bodies."

The Eagles will finish 2020 with a 6-5 overall record and a split 5-5 performance in the ACC. BC is the first program to opt out of the 2020 bowl season.