LAWTON – Cameron University, closed for three months because of the coronavirus health crisis, is “aiming for August to reopen and have students back on campus,” CU Athletic Director Jim Jackson said recently.
CU is “making adjustments for the return of its student athletes,” he said. The NCAA currently allows voluntary workouts “but the rules change almost daily,” Jackson said. Nevertheless, “We are optimistic.”
Cameron coaches will abide by guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local health officials and the local government, Jackson said. For example, safety precautions – such as social distancing and taking the temperature of athletes – will be observed in the training rooms, he said.
In preparation for the return of athletes, Cameron’s tennis courts are to be refinished in July, the basketball court has been refinished and redesigned, and outdoor batting cages are being built for CU baseball and softball players.
Presidents of the 19 schools (including Cameron) in the Lone Star Conference will meet in July to approve the basketball schedules, Jackson said. “They will have final approval of those schedules.”
The NCAA last month reduced schedules for the 2020-21 school year because of financial difficulties that Division II institutions such as Cameron face as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the association explained on its website.
Cameron’s budget, approved last Thursday by the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, estimates more than $43 million in revenue but more than $45 million in expenditures. The school expects to cover the deficit with $1.7 million in reserve funds, cutbacks in spending, and leaving vacant faculty and staff positions unfilled.
CU President John McArthur said the school anticipates an enrollment decline of up to 15%. For the 2020-2021 academic year:
• Division II men’s and women’s basketball seasons were reduced from 28 regular-season games to 22.
• Women’s volleyball will be limited to 20 dates. (During the first two weeks of the season the teams participate in jamborees and often play three or four games in one day, but that counts as just one date, Jackson noted.)
• The baseball season was scaled back from 50 to 40 games.
• The softball season was cut from 56 to 44 regular season games.
• Men’s and women’s soccer were trimmed from 18 games to 14.
• Men’s and women’s tennis are limited to 17 events.
• Men’s and women’s golf will participate in 16 events.
• Indoor and outdoor track and field will see 14 events.
• Cross country is limited to six events.