UNH opts opt of remaining football season
DURHAM, N.H. (BVM) — With two games left on its schedule, the University of New Hampshire has decided to opt out of the remainder of the spring football season.
After playing their first game to start the season, the Wildcats have gone on to cancel their past three games before making the final call to end their season.
“Despite the incredible efforts of Coach Mac, the entire football staff, athletic training and, most of all, our student-athletes, we are left with no other choice but to forego the remainder of the spring season,” UNH Director of Athletics Marty Scarano said in a press release. “This is not the outcome we hoped for, but unfortunately, we could not get on the right side of the COVID numbers, and we will never forsake the health of our students. This is incredibly heartbreaking, but I am so proud of how hard everyone fought to give themselves a chance to get back on the field. This should be a reminder that this pandemic is still very much a part of our lives.”
In New Hampshire’s lone game this season, the Wildcats came up short in a 24-20 home loss to UAlbany back in March.
“I am so proud of our guys for working their tails off to be prepared to play football this spring and to compete the way they did when we faced Albany on March 5,” head coach Sean McDonnell said in the release. “We followed the safety protocols to the best of our abilities, dealt with the starts-and-stops that come with COVID, and never wavered in our commitment to play football.
“But like so many other programs around the country, the virus took its toll on us,” McDonnell added. “I am constantly reminded that the virus controls us, we don’t control it. While I am very disappointed for the team, their families, and our staff, I know in my heart that sometimes the right decision is the hardest decision.”
With the season being pushed back to spring, UNH had hoped to be able to participate in more games following the wait. The Colonial Athletic Association has now had two teams opt with the University of Albany recently pulling the plug on its season for injury–related reasons.
