Utes athletic teams suspending practices indefinitely, including spring football

SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah announced Friday it is suspending team practices indefinitely for all the Utes athletic programs amid coronavirus concerns.

That includes spring football, and comes one day after the Pac-12 and the school announced all scheduled athletics competitions have been canceled, effective immediately.

“We understand the seriousness of this worldwide pandemic and support every measure being taken in the interests of public health and safety,” Utes athletic director Mark Harlan said in a statement. “I also want to acknowledge the extreme disappointment our student-athletes are experiencing as they adjust to the finality of this on so many levels. We will continue to support them in every way while giving them the freedom to make the safest and healthiest decisions for them.”

Utah spring football practices were scheduled to resume next week. They began March 2 and practiced for a week before taking time off for spring break.

The Utah football Twitter account also shared a statement: “We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and we are taking every precautionary measure possible for the safety and health of our student-athletes, recruits and staff. Effective immediately, we will be in a recruiting dead period until at least the 15th of April and all spring ball activities will be put on hold until further notice. Thanks and Go Utes!”