All UVa Athletic Events Postponed This Weekend

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Sept. 12, 2001

Charlottesville, Va. – All University of Virginia intercollegiate athletic events have been postponed through Sunday, Sept. 16.

The Virginia-Penn State University football game originally scheduled for Thursday (Sept. 13) has been rescheduled for Dec. 1 in Charlottesville. The game was postponed on Tuesday (Sept. 11) in light of the tragic events that day and was rescheduled this afternoon after discussions between representatives of the Virginia and Penn State athletic departments, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big Ten Conference.

A starting time for the game will be established at a later date. The original tickets for the game will be honored on Dec. 1.

The Virginia men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball teams were scheduled to compete this weekend. Those competitions have not been rescheduled at this time.

“When you think about the impact of yesterday’s events and what we experienced as a nation, playing a football game Thursday – or even this weekend – was not an option,” said UVa Athletics Director Craig Littlepage. “Penn State University and the University of Virginia are in agreement that Saturday, Dec. 1, is the best time to play the game.”

“This decision is an indication to our students, our fans and the public that there are, indeed, more important things than a game,” he said. “We are applying a consistent practice, so all of our other sports will also postpone their competitions this weekend. The coaches in each sport will work with their opponents to reschedule those contests.”

Statement from football coach Al Groh regarding the rescheduling of Thursday’s football game vs. Penn State:

“Sports competition is an integral part of the fabric of American life. However, it is necessary to keep in mind there are more important things in life than football. This is one of those times.

“The re-establishment of normalcy is part of the formula for dealing with life, but the image of 65,000 fans cheering for their team just did not seem appropriate. Nor did the vision of an empty stadium or one full of somber fans seem right. Simply, this is the right thing to do.

“We are all on ‘Team USA’ and right now the focus of our attention is on our fallen teammates and the game plan of how to win the battle against the evil of terrorism.

“We look forward to the resumption of our schedule vs. Clemson on Sept. 22. Our attitude about playing Penn State on Dec. 1 is the same as it always is about scheduling-we’ll play whenever and wherever a game is scheduled.

“May God Bless America.”