Football players, coach react to cancellation

Larry Hawley
Senior writer

Illinois football players and coaches supported Wednesday's decision to play on Saturday against Louisville at Memorial Stadium to get their minds off the recent tragedies in New York and Washington.

When the decision was overturned by the University on Thursday, there was some initial disappointment. But with the events of the past few days the Illini could easily understand the decision.

"I wanted to play. This football team wanted to play — that's why I wanted to play, but we're not and I respect the decision, and I could see the reason why. And the reasons are obvious," Illinois head coach Ron Turner said. "It makes you realize what is important — it's important for these kids and fans. There is a lot more important than football."

Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther was also one of those who wanted to have the football game.

"We as a conference wanted to play, that was the sentiment we got out of the White House, that we should try to continue as usual," Guenther said. "We wanted to do the right thing, and today we felt differently about things."

So did the rest of the country, as every school in Division I-A football now has either canceled or postponed their games. Many of these schools were thought to play as late as last night, but when the NFL announced Thursday morning to cancel its games, things began to change.

This morning's postponement is the first for Illinois football since Nov. 23, 1963, when Illinois' football game at Michigan State was stopped because of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Since the Illini already were in East Lansing before the assassination occurred, they stayed in town, and the game was played on Thanksgiving Day. Illinois won the Big Ten title with a 13-0 victory over the Spartans, and advanced to the Rose Bowl.

Since the decision was switched, Turner has given his team the weekend off, and will return to normal practicing on Sunday afternoon, as they would start a usual game week.

"Our players have the weekend off which we will take to get some rest and reflect on what has happened over the past few days," Turner said. "We will try to make this a positive."

In the aftermath of the cancellation, Guenther has been working with Louisville to try and reschedule the game.

"We still would like to play Louisville and I think they would like to play us," Guenther said.

The two teams don't share a common off-week week. That would leave Dec. 1 as the only potential makeup date, which isn't preferred by the schools, since it's after conference play.

"They will try to do what they can to move things around, they could make something work," Turner said.

If this doesn't work, there is a chance that Illinois and Louisville could break their game agreement. Though it wouldn't affect Louisville, who has 12 games scheduled for this season, it would have a profound effect on Illinois, who has only 10 games if the Louisville game is canceled. Not having the 11th game would not only mean the Illini would lose a game, but would have to win a higher percentage of games to earn a bowl birth.

In this case, Illinois would have to look for another opponent with which to possibly schedule a game. The team would have to have similar bye weeks to Illinois. Since so many games have been canceled or postponed, that possibility is likely.

"I think there has been enough disruption because there has been so many postponements and cancellations," Guenther said. "I think there will be opportunities where institutions are wanting to play 11 games. I think we will have to look at what is available."

Though Turner still wants the originally scheduled game against Louisville, he would be open to playing another team if the situation warranted it.

"We still want to play Louisville, and I think they still want to play us," Turner said. "If not, we will look to pick up an 11th game during one of the bye games."

There are a number of teams throughout the country that hold similar off weekends as Illinois.

Turner said he is sure the game will be a home contest.

"I doubt seriously we will play somewhere else," Turner said.

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