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Morehouse College has decided to withdraw from competing in collegiate-organized sporting events this fall due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the private historically Black institution announced on its website Friday.

On the bright side, the school plans to leave student-athlete scholarships intact, as announced in a public letter to the Morehouse community issued by President David A. Thomas, who said that health and safety must be prioritized as the school seeks to reopen for in-person learning in coming months.

“I write to inform you that due to the COVID-19 virus, Morehouse College will not participate in intercollegiate athletic competition” and the move “will affect our cross country and football sponsored athletic teams,” Thomas said in the statement.

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Morehouse, an all-male school in Atlanta, is believed to be the first college football program to cancel its season as a result of the global health crisis.

According to the school’s website, COVID-19 forced Morehouse to complete the spring semester exclusively online beginning in late March.