Thursday, September 13, 2001

Sporting events canceled this weekend
By Brandon Ortiz
Sports Editor

All TCU intercollegiate sporting events, including the football team’s Saturday game against Marshall, have been postponed through this weekend.

Athletics Director Eric Hyman said it would not be appropriate for athletic teams to compete after the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington.

“In our perspective, it was in light of the tragic events that transpired,” Hyman said. “We have a lot of heavy hearts right now. It’s a struggle. Athletics is just a very small thing on the radar screen.”

Caleb William/SKIFF STAFF Sophomore guard Nucleus Smith prepares to move around freshman guard Corey Santee during a voluntary work out Wednesday. All TCU intercollegiate sporting events for this weekend are canceled.

Hyman said the football game against Marshall will not be rescheduled this season because of scheduling conflicts, but will be made up another year.

“In light of the situation, we fully understand and support the decision not to play this weekend,” head football coach Gary Patterson said in a released statement.

Obviously there are other things in life more significant than a football game. Our sympathy, condolence and prayers go out to all the families who were touched by this tragedy.”

The athletics department will try to reschedule other sports, including volleyball, men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s soccer.

“We will make every attempt to reschedule all of our other events,” Hyman said.

The men’s golf team will not compete in the Inverness Intercollegiate in Toledo, Ohio, Monday. Head men’s golf coach Bill Montigel canceled team practices until Monday.

The athletics department will make a donation to the American Red Cross to help disaster victims. Hyman did not know how much the donation will be or when it will be made.

Promotional events surrounding Saturday’s football game will also be postponed, said Brian Estridge, director of sports marketing and broadcasting.

An event for Hispanic Heritage month and an event for honoring “heroes” will be rescheduled, possibly Sept. 22, for the football team’s game against Northwestern State (La.), Estridge said.

“It’s nothing we can’t work through,” Estridge said.

Hyman said even though sporting and promotional events will have to be rescheduled, the problems incurred in making these change are worth it.

“A lot of people lost their lives, a lot of tragedy is going on, there are some problems, but these problems pale in comparison to what is taking place in this country,” Hyman said. “We will work through our problems.

“I think lives are a lot more important.”

Brandon Ortiz
b.p.ortiz@student.tcu.edu