The freshman class of student-athletes will be dealing with this rapid change while also acclimating to the usual nerves and challenges that come with entering a new environment at the university, and jumping to an entirely new level of competition.
All 11 games on the Seawolves’ schedule were wiped on July 17, when the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) announced that it was suspending the fall football season, with the intent to play in spring 2021 instead.
Former Rutgers wide receiver Hunter Hayek announced his commitment to Stony Brook Football as a graduate transfer on Aug. 20. Hayek was ranked the 52nd-best overall recruit from New Jersey by 247Sports.
On Saturday, Aug. 15, the New York Jets announced the signing of former Stony Brook Football tight end Connor Davis. Davis played a total of 41 games at Stony Brook over five seasons.
While the Big 10 and Pac-12 conferences recently postponed their seasons, the remaining Power Five conferences are intending to play college football this fall. While many professional athletes can opt-out of playing, college athletes cannot do so.
“Although it was our hope to compete this fall, circumstances beyond our control have necessitated an alternate path,” Stony Brook Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron said in a press release.
The America East has postponed fall sports to the spring. Many other conferences have canceled their fall sports seasons as well, including the Patriot League, Ivy League and several Division II and Division III conferences
Stony Brook’s season opener at MAC member Western Michigan is set to pay out $325,000 to the Seawolves. This means Stony Brook is currently slated to receive a combined total of $725,000 for showing up to play the first two weeks of its season against FBS opponents.
Stony Brook added their second FBS opponent, the Western Michigan Broncos, as their season opener now scheduled for Friday, Sept. 4 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This match replaces their previously scheduled matchup against Fordham on Aug. 29.
