Two college bowl games were canceled on Sunday and more are at risk of being called off due to growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19.
The Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, was the latest game to be called off after the University of Miami announced on Sunday night that the team would not make the trip. The official announcement on Twitter said the decision was “due to COVID-19 protocols.”
Miami Athletics announced Sunday that its football team will be unable to participate in the 2021 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against Washington State due to COVID-19 protocols. pic.twitter.com/LeDTHsfWjK
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) December 27, 2021
“We are extremely disappointed that our football team will be unable to participate in the 2021 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl,” Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Strawley said in a statement on the team’s website.
“But due to the number of COVID-19 cases impacting our roster we do not have enough student-athletes to safely compete, and the health and safety of our student-athletes will always be our top priority. This team worked hard all season to earn a bowl invitation and my heart goes out to our student-athletes, especially our seniors. I also want to thank Interim Head Coach Jess Simpson and our football staff for all of their efforts in preparation for this bowl game,” she added.
“We regret the impact this has on the Washington State program and their postseason experience. I want to commend the Sun Bowl Association for their tireless work in helping us navigate this situation over the past several days. We are grateful for their support as an Atlantic Coast Conference bowl partner,” the statement added.
The announcement came on the same day that the Military Bowl shared that its game would not take place.
🚨 NEWS🚨
2021 #MilitaryBowl presented by @PeratonCorp, benefiting @the_USO has been CANCELED.
📰https://t.co/4opLN0BoNZ pic.twitter.com/NYeJwkLUVI
— Military Bowl (@MilitaryBowl) December 26, 2021
Boston College and East Carolina were scheduled to play on Monday at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
“This is a terrible situation obviously,” Military Bowl President & Executive Director Steve Beck said in a statement. “We appreciate everyone who worked so hard to try to make the game happen. Of course, the health and safety of the players and coaches is top priority. The decision not to play is understandable, but disappointing.”
“Unfortunately, due to cases of COVID-19 rising within our program since our arrival, along with season-ending injuries, opt outs and transfers, we just do not have enough players to field a team,” Boston College Director of Athletics Pat Kraft said.
“We are disappointed not to be able to finish the season together as a team, but the health and safety of our program is our highest priority. Steve Beck and his Military Bowl staff put on a great week for our team and we are thankful for everything they did to make us feel at home during our stay in Washington, D.C.,” Kraft added.
The Wasabi Fenway Bowl was also canceled on Sunday. The statement from the bowl game’s Twitter account noted that the University of Virginia withdrew due to a high number of COVID-19 cases. The team was scheduled to play Southern Methodist University in Boston’s historic Fenway Park baseball stadium.
Wasabi Fenway Bowl Update: pic.twitter.com/InTrBdar9f
— Wasabi Fenway Bowl (@FenwayBowl) December 26, 2021
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