Holiday Bowl, 5th college football cancellation

The Holiday Bowl became the fifth college football game canceled after UCLA withdrew from Tuesday’s engagement, a few hours before its start, due to COVID-19 problems within the team.

The Bruins were scheduled to face North Carolina (18th) at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.

An increase in coronavirus cases in the country has affected the college football bowl season for the second year in a row.

The Hawaii, Military, Fenway and Arizona bowls had already been canceled due to COVID-19 outbreaks that left teams without enough available players. Participants in the Sun and the Gator Bowl have had to look at the last minute for replacements to complete their teams.

North Carolina State is the fifth university in the Atlantic Coast Conference to have its bowl affected by the coronavirus.

Miami, Virginia and Boston College had to withdraw from their parties. Wake Forest is scheduled to play the Gator Bowl, but against Rutgers and not against Texas A&M, the team originally planned.

“This is an incredibly frustrating result for our players and staff, who have worked very hard to position themselves for a 10th win. The timing of the announcement, so close to the kickoff, was disappointing, “said Boo Coorigan, NC State athletic director.

He added that his university has had communication with several teams in order to play a game. However, it did not disclose when or where it would take place.

Coaches Dave Doeren of NC State and Chip Kelly of UCLA spoke Monday about tightening protocols to ensure bowls are made. The cancellation must have hurt the Wolfpack, whose goal was to end a campaign with 10 wins for just the second time.

“Prevention is the best medicine now,” said Doeren. “Our boys have been through this. They understand how to follow protocols to protect the mission. We are here to win our 10th game. That has happened only once in the history of the school. There is a lot at stake ”.

The Petco had to be modified to host a football game. A new home was needed for the Holiday Bowl after the 70,000-seat SDCCU Stadium was demolished to build a new stadium for San Diego State.

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