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| Occidental's players, all 36 of them, want to take the field this week, but the athletic department called off their game with Pacific. Photo by Ronnie Glover, d3photography.com |
Occidental hired a new football coach in August, had just 47 players for its opening game and now won't play its second scheduled game, as the school called off Saturday's game vs. Pacific for what it referred to as a "significantly diminished player roster."
Let's call the whole thing offTeams have certainly taken the field with fewer than 36 healthy players in Division III football. However, cancellations of this nature are not without precedent. Here are some notable incidents from the past 20 years: 2005, Lewis & Clark: The Pioneers dropped their Northwest Conference slate after opening the season with 34 players. 2000, Mount Ida: After losing its opener to Western Connecticut 47-0, the Mustangs dropped their second scheduled game (Wesley) and their eighth (Brockport) but played the rest. They went 0-8 on the season, scoring just 16 points. 2014, Maranatha Baptist: The Crusaders called off three of their nine scheduled games, leaving them with six, all of which they lost. Maranatha started the 2014 season with 30 players. The school has since dropped football.
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The Tigers, who lost their opener in Week 2 at Puget Sound by a 61-6 score, have 36 healthy players who could suit up Saturday, according to a source inside the locker room. Two of the 47 have left the team. The other nine are injured.
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"This is a painful decision, but in the final analysis the only responsible decision I could make. Over the past 24 hours, I have had multiple conversations that included team seniors, coaches, trainers, the dean of students, the dean of the college, and President (Jonathan) Veitch," athletic director Jaime Hoffman said in a news release. "Without question, our student-athletes are ready to play. In no way does this decision reflect on their commitment, talent, or work ethic. However, the inevitable conclusion, given the state of our depth chart, was to not go forward with Saturday's game. "
"As a (representative) of the Oxy football team I can tell you we were eager and ready to compete against Pacific," a player told D3football.com. His name is being withheld because he was not speaking with the support of the athletic department. "On behalf of the entire Occidental College football team, we want it to be known we are outraged by this decision."
Coach Rob Cushman was hired in the first week of August and took over for Doug Semones, who retired late in July after four seasons. Occidental was 1-8 last season. Occidental has not won a conference title since firing longtime coach Dale Widolff in 2012.
Occidental has another bye week in Week 4 and is scheduled to play Redlands to begin its conference schedule in Week 5. No decision has been made about that game, according to the school's news release.