August 28, 2009

St. Paul's cancels season opener

No helmets, no pads, no game.

Last year's pads can't be used until the truck gets in? How do you practice with out pads? Apparently "the players did calisthenics in shorts and T-shirts. "

I knew the economy was bad, but I never thought football would see difficulties like this.

Division II St. Paul's had ordered helmets and pads -- but the shipment hadn't arrived yet.

Tigers assistant coach Kevin Grisby referred questions to Bailey about the equipment issue, but Grisby did say that the team was trying to keep a businesslike approach. St. Paul's is set to play Sept. 5 at UNC-Pembroke.

"From a coaching standpoint, we're preparing our players just like any other day," Grisby said. "We've got to move our troops the best we can right now and that's what we're doing as coaches."

Opponent West Virginia Wesleyan is, understandably, a little upset at the deal. West Virginia Wesleyan's AD Ken Tyler said Friday that St. Paul's AD Leroy Bacote called him with the news Thursday, less than 24 hours before the Wesleyan team was scheduled to travel 341 miles to play the game in South Hill, Va.

Tyler said the contract signed with St. Paul's includes an undisclosed financial penalty for canceling the game.

"We will be invoking that clause," Tyler said. "Since it was St. Paul's home game, it is their clause."

West Virginia Wesleyan also will seek reimbursement of any expenses. Tyler said the team was being charged for 40 hotel rooms that had been previously booked.

Elsewhere:

"I'm flabbergasted and disappointed for our players," Tyler said. "They've been working really hard. They've been peaking and looking forward to kick off the season. It's a real punch in the gut. Beyond that, I feel it was very unprofessional. We would never, ever even consider doing that."

As expected:

St. Paul's President Robert L. Satcher Sr. didn't immediately return a message left with a secretary.

St. Paul's is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. CIAA commissioner Leon Kerry didn't immediately return a telephone message.

Comments:

St. Paul's cancels season opener
No helmets, no pads, no game. Last year's pads can't be used until the truck gets in? How do you practice with out pads? Apparently "the players did calisthenics in shorts and T-shirts. " I knew the economy was bad, but I never thought football would see difficulties like this.

Division II St. Paul's had ordered helmets and pads -- but the shipment hadn't arrived yet. Tigers assistant coach Kevin Grisby referred questions to Bailey about the equipment issue, but Grisby did say that the team was trying to keep a businesslike approach. St. Paul's is set to play Sept. 5 at UNC-Pembroke. "From a coaching standpoint, we're preparing our players just like any other day," Grisby said. "We've got to move our troops the best we can right now and that's what we're doing as coaches."

Opponent West Virginia Wesleyan is, understandably, a little upset at the deal. West Virginia Wesleyan's AD Ken Tyler said Friday that St. Paul's AD Leroy Bacote called him with the news Thursday, less than 24 hours before the Wesleyan team was scheduled to travel 341 miles to play the game in South Hill, Va. Tyler said the contract signed with St. Paul's includes an undisclosed financial penalty for canceling the game.

"We will be invoking that clause," Tyler said. "Since it was St. Paul's home game, it is their clause." West Virginia Wesleyan also will seek reimbursement of any expenses. Tyler said the team was being charged for 40 hotel rooms that had been previously booked. Elsewhere: "I'm flabbergasted and disappointed for our players," Tyler said. "They've been working really hard. They've been peaking and looking forward to kick off the season. It's a real punch in the gut. Beyond that, I feel it was very unprofessional. We would never, ever even consider doing that."

As expected:

St. Paul's President Robert L. Satcher Sr. didn't immediately return a message left with a secretary. St. Paul's is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. CIAA commissioner Leon Kerry didn't immediately return a telephone message.