Just announced by North Alabama and the NCAA offices, UNA football will officially be granted a waiver into the NCAA Tournament selection process.
The NCAA mandates at least 10 regular season contests to be considered for the NCAA D2 Football Tournament. This season, the Lions will finish with just nine games after their October 8 game against Florida Tech was cancelled due to Hurricane Matthew. No makeup for the game has been announced, and it looks as though no makeup game will be played.
In a statement by NCAA Division II Football Committee Chair Michael McBroom to North Alabama, the NCAA stated "the committee believes that all attempts were made to try and play the scheduled football game vs. Florida Tech and unfortunately, through no fault of their own, the game was unable to be played due to Hurricane Matthew."
The Lions currently sport a 4-1 mark with big victories over Gulf South rivals Valdosta State and West Georgia. The only loss on the season came to FCS member Jacksonville State during the opening week of the season. Remaining on the docket for the current GSC leaders are four contests, two at home and two on the road. Head Coach Bobby Wallace was pleased to find the decision by the NCAA benefited his team.
"This obviously opens the door for us to be able to obtain one of our goals, and that's the possibility of making the playoffs," Wallace told representatives of the UNA athletic department. "It would have been very disappointing, if we had a good enough season, to not be selected just because we only have nine games."
Stay tuned here at HERO for further information if anything else shall be released on the matter, and to roarlions.com, official home of UNA Athletics.
