Tag: canceled

Oct 5, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; General view of a Tennessee Volunteers helmet prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Nebraska cancels home-and-home series with Tennessee

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Nebraska has opted out of a home-and-home football series with Tennessee scheduled for 2026 and 2027.

Tennessee athletic director Danny White confirmed the news — and his displeasure — on social media.

“Tennessee is not canceling this series. Nebraska did,” White posted Friday on X. “We are very disappointed that they didn’t want to play these games, especially this close to 2026.”

The 2026 game had been scheduled for Lincoln, Neb., with the 2027 contest in Knoxville, Tenn.

Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen said upcoming renovations to the Cornhuskers’ stadium prompted the decision.

“We are making plans to embark on major renovations of Memorial Stadium that may impact our seating capacity for the 2027 season,” Dannen said in a statement. “The best scenario for us is to have eight home games in 2027 to offset any potential revenue loss from a reduced capacity. The additional home games will also have a tremendous economic benefit on the Lincoln community.”

Nebraska will pay $500,000 to get out of the agreement. White told Volquest that the cost should have been “much steeper.”

“You really can’t pull an audible this late in the game,” White said.

The Cornhuskers will replace the Volunteers with home dates against Bowling Green in 2026 and Miami (Ohio) in 2027. Tennessee is still looking for replacements.

Nebraska finished 7-6 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten last season and Tennessee finished 10-3, including 6-2 in the Southeastern Conference.

The Cornhuskers are 2-1 in the all-time series, with the Volunteers winning the most recent meeting 38-24 at the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30, 2016.

Nebraska and Tennessee originally agreed to a home-and-home series in 2006, to be played in 2016 and 2017. In 2013, the schools agreed to delay the series for a decade.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Laramie, Wyoming, USA; A general view of the Appalachian State Mountaineers helmet against the Wyoming Cowboys at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-Imagn Images

Liberty-Appalachian State game canceled due to Hurricane Helene

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Appalachian State’s home game against Liberty on Saturday has been canceled due to the impact of Hurricane Helene.

The game in Boone, N.C., will not be rescheduled, per a statement on the Mountaineers’ official website.

Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida late Thursday, but adjacent states were not spared. North Carolina governor Roy Cooper issued a state of emergency in preparation for potential flooding, damaging winds and power outages, and media in the area near Boone reported widespread flooding Friday morning.

Liberty (4-0) will return to action against visiting FIU on Oct. 8, while Appalachian State (2-2) will travel to Marshall on Oct. 5.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Official NFL game footballs and a kicking tee on the field before the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Baltimore Ravensa at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Northwestern State S Ronnie Caldwell killed in shooting

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Northwestern State junior safety Ronnie Caldwell was killed in a shooting early Thursday morning, according to police in Natchitoches, La.

Caldwell, 21, was shot multiple times just after 1 a.m. local time at an apartment complex near the university campus, the Natchitoches Police Department told USA Today. The police department also told USA Today that it has a person of interest in Caldwell’s death.

Northwestern State (0-5, 0-1 Southland) canceled its game Saturday at Nicholls in Thibodaux, La., and said in a statement that decisions regarding the remaining games on the schedule will be made as the season progresses.

“The Northwestern State family has suffered a tremendous loss,” head coach Brad Laird said in a statement. “Ronnie Caldwell was a young man who had a bright future ahead of him on or off the football field. He was our voice in the locker room. When Ronnie spoke, others listened. The respect our football team had for Ronnie was evident. He did not play a snap this year because of an injury, but his voice resonated with every member of our team from the first player to the 115th on our roster.”

Caldwell was injured in preseason camp, but he served as a de facto assistant defensive coach on the sideline and traveled with the team.

A business administration major from Austin, Texas, Caldwell attended Cedar Park High School and Tyler (Texas) Junior College before transferring to Northwestern State. He totaled 42 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, in starting 10 of 11 games.

He was selected to the 2022 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll after recording a grade-point average of at least 3.0 during the football season.

“We are stunned and saddened by the sudden loss of Ronnie Caldwell,” Northwestern State director of athletics Kevin Bostian said. “Ronnie was a devoted teammate, friend, brother and son. His teammates, coaches and staff members who had the pleasure of knowing Ronnie will remember his ever-present smile and the way he could light up any room when he walked in. Words truly cannot express the heartache we feel for Ronnie, his family, his teammates and our university community.”

–Field Level Media

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith enters Ohio Stadium ahead of the Buckeyes' game against Michigan on Nov. 26, 2002. Dsc02916

Ohio St. cancels two-game series with Washington

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Ohio State nixed a home-and-home series against Washington, scheduled for 2024 and ’25, and will pay a $500,000 penalty for backing out.

The Buckeyes were to play at Washington on Sept. 14, 2024, with the Huskies visiting Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 13, 2025. The series had been agreed to in 20217.

No reason was given by Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, but speculation centers on the potential of the Buckeyes having inbound UCLA and Southern Cal on the schedule beginning in 2024. The Buckeyes would have to make a West Coast trip in 2024, the same season as traveling to Washington.

The Bruins and Trojans are exiting the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.

“I have the utmost respect for the University of Washington and for Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen,” Smith said in a statement released Wednesday, “and this was a very difficult call to make.”

Smith said Ohio State will add an eighth home games for 2024 season to offset the $500,000 to Washington, due by February 2025.

“We are very disappointed that our student-athletes, staff and Husky Nation won’t get to experience these two games with Ohio State,” Cohen said in a statement. “Everyone has had these dates circled for a number of years and we were looking forward to these opportunities to compete against the Buckeyes. We are in the process of finding new opponents for the 2024 and 2025 seasons and will provide an update as soon as we have one.”

The 2024 schedule will be finalized by the Big Ten in October.

–Field Level Media

Nov 15, 2022; Charlottesville, Virginia, US; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott collects himself while answering a question from the media during a press conference regarding the deaths of three Cavaliers players from a shooting on the university grounds late Sunday night in Charlottesville. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY NETWORK

Mourning Virginia cancels game with Coastal Carolina

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Mourning Virginia canceled its final home game of the season as the university attempts to recover from a campus shooting that claimed the lives of three members of the football team on Sunday night.

Virginia was scheduled to host Coastal Carolina but school officials and the football coaching staff involved players and support staff in the decision whether to play Saturday or call off the game.

“The decision was made following the shooting of five students on Grounds Sunday night,” Virginia announced Wednesday. “The incident resulted in the deaths of three members of the UVA team — Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry. The game would have been Virginia’s final home game of the 2022 season.”

No decision has been made about the Nov. 26 game against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., the school added.

Athletic director Carla Williams said Tuesday at a press conference “they’re going through a lot” describing the emotional toll on the Cavaliers’ football team.

Perry, a defensive end, and wide receivers Davis Jr. and Chandler were killed on a bus as students returned from a field trip to Washington, D.C. to see a play for a class. The suspected gunman, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., is in police custody and charged with three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in the alleged commission of a felony.

Two other people, including one football player, were injured.

“It feels like it’s a nightmare to be honest with you,” head coach Tony Elliott said Tuesday.

“For me the best coping mechanism for me is the young men. Having a chance to be around them and to see them, and to see their pain, to see their hurt just inspires me to keep pushing forward each and every day. There’s no — you prepare for this job. There’s no chapter on a situation like this. So I’m trying to figure out step-by-step how to be strong for these young men.”

Coastal Carolina expressed support for the decision against playing the game on Saturday.

“As much as we love gameday and the spirit it brings, there is a time when the sanctity of life and sustaining of a community take precedence. This is one of those times,” Coastal Carolina’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics Matt Hogue said in a statement. “We fully support the decision and will continue offering our assistance and contribute however we can toward the healing of our friends and colleagues at UVA.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 19, 2020; Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA; Troy Trojans running back B.J. Smith (26) runs for a first down during the first half against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Floyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Troy-Louisiana Monroe II canceled due to COVID-19

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Troy’s game with Louisiana-Monroe scheduled for Thursday night has been called for the second and final time, due to the Warhawks not having enough players available to play.

The two were originally scheduled to play on Sept. 5 but that game was postponed due to nine positive tests for the coronavirus within ULM’s program.

Troy finishes the season with a record of 5-6, and 3-4 in the Sun Belt.

“We are extremely disappointed in the news that ULM will not have enough players available to play Thursday’s game,” Troy director of athletics Brent Jones said. “I am very appreciative to ULM Athletics Director Scott McDonald and Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill for their open lines of communication in this process. My heart hurts for our student-athletes, coaches and staff who have worked tirelessly since they returned to campus in June with the intention of playing a full 12-game schedule.”

ULM finishes winless at 0-10, including an 0-7 conference mark.

“The combination of positive COVID tests, contact tracing and injuries made it impossible to safely play the season finale at Troy,” McDonald said. “Our No. 1 priority throughout this uniquely challenging season has been maintaining a safe environment for our student-athletes.

“I’m disappointed for the senior student-athletes from both schools, who won’t have the opportunity to close out their careers in the appropriate manner.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 24, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs cornerback Sam Westfall (6) is congratulated by the fans following SMU's 34-31 win against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Houston-SMU II canceled due to COVID-19

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The Houston Cougars-SMU Mustangs game scheduled for Saturday has been called off for the second time, due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Mustangs’ program, according to reports.

The Houston Chronicle reported that the outbreak hit SMU’s quarterbacks, though it’s unclear if starter Shane Buechele tested positive for the virus.

Saturday’s game was rescheduled from Nov. 21 but the contest now is canceled, per the reports. COVID-19 within Houston’s program forced the Nov. 21 contest to get postponed.

The cancellation marks the third week in a row and eighth overall this season that Houston has either had to postpone (two) or cancel (six) a game.

Houston is 3-3, 3-2 in the American Athletic Conference and hasn’t played since Nov. 14. Houston will try again Dec. 12 against Memphis, a rescheduled game from Sept. 18.

SMU (7-3, 4-3) had just one cancellation due to COVID-19 before this one, Sept. 12 vs. TCU. And this marks the first time an SMU game has been nixed due to COVID within the Mustangs’ program.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2018; Madison, WI, USA; Big Ten logo on yardage markers during warmups prior to the game betwee the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Northwestern-Minnesota game canceled

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The Northwestern-Minnesota football scheduled for Saturday has been canceled because of COVID-19 issues within the Golden Gophers’ program.

Per Big Ten policy this season, the game will not be rescheduled and will be ruled a no-contest.

Minnesota (2-3 overall, 2-3 Big Ten), which also canceled last Saturday’s game at Wisconsin, reported 47 people (21 athletes, 26 staff members) have tested positive for the coronavirus since Nov. 19.

“The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff continues to be our main priority,” Golden Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle said. “The last couple of days have shown a decrease in positive cases, but not to the point where we are able to return to competition. We are disappointed not to be able to compete against Northwestern on Saturday, but we need to continue to focus on following all CDC and MDH guidelines and slow the spread of the virus. We will now shift our priority to doing everything possible to compete at Nebraska on December 12, and our decisions will continue to be guided by our medical experts.”

Saturday’s cancellation marks the first such result this season for Northwestern (5-1, 5-1), which sustained its first loss of the season with a 29-20 setback to Michigan State last Saturday.

The Wildcats will conclude their regular season against Illinois on Dec. 12.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2019; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans running back Elijah Collins (24) runs the ball in front of Maryland Terrapins defensive lineman Bryce Brand (27) during the second half a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

COVID-19 scraps Maryland-MSU; Locksley positive

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Maryland-Michigan State game scheduled for Saturday has been canceled due to an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 within the Terrapins program, including head coach Mike Locksley.

It’s the second consecutive week that Maryland has had to cancel a game. Last week’s game against No. 3 Ohio State was also called off. It’s the first cancellation for Michigan State.

Maryland announced Thursday that 15 players and seven staff members have tested positive during the past seven days, including Locksley, who tested positive Wednesday.

“I am gutted for our team and for our fans,” Locksley said in a statement. “This team is eager to play and compete and continue the growth we’ve seen this season. This virus is testing our players and coaches right now, but I have no doubt that we will emerge as a stronger unit for having gone through this together.

“As for me personally, I am feeling strong, with only minor symptoms. I will continue to lead this program virtually and our game preparations for Indiana will begin immediately,” Locksley said.

Per Big Ten rules, any game that can’t be played because of the coronavirus goes down as a no contest and does not get rescheduled.

Maryland (2-1) is scheduled to play at No. 9 Indiana next week, and the Spartans (1-3) are slated to host No. 19 Northwestern.

In all, 15 games have been canceled or postponed on the week, following 15 last week.

–Field Level Media

Nov 7, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) runs with the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Outbreak at Maryland scraps game vs. No. 3 Ohio State

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Saturday’s game between No. 3 Ohio State and Maryland has been canceled due to an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Terrapins program, the school announced.

Maryland has paused all football activities after eight players tested positive over the past seven days.

“We’re obviously extremely disappointed that we’ll be unable to host Ohio State this Saturday,” Terps coach Michael Locksley said in a statement. “It was an opportunity that our team was preparing for and excited about. However, we have and always will keep our players, coaches and staffs’ safety at the forefront of our decision making process. We’ll continue to operate as much as we can virtually as we monitor the situation in hopes of returning to play when it’s deemed safe.”

The Terps (2-1) had won consecutive games, including last week’s victory at Penn State. Ohio State is 3-0 and was a 25.5-point favorite in the game. Ohio State defeated Rutgers at home last week.

Per Big Ten rules, any game lost to the coronavirus goes down as a “no contest” and will not be rescheduled.

–Field Level Media