Nebraska cancels football
Nebraska cancels football
Having 12 players on the football field typically prompts a penalty flag.
But a western Nebraska high school whose football team hasn't won a game since 2008 and was outscored 243-32 in five games this year cancelled its season Tuesday after its 18-player roster dwindled to 12.
The Morrill Lions suffered four season-ending injuries this year and two other players moved away.
The Lions' starting quarterback broke a hand and another player fractured an ankle in last week's game, prompting the school's athletic director, Tom Peacock, to meet with coaches, players and parents on Monday night. The consensus was to shut down the program for the year.
Scottsbluff radio station KNEB first reported the decision Tuesday morning.
"The parents were real concerned," Peacock said, adding that the season would have continued if the team played eight-man football. "With only 12 kids, there would be no breaks or subs, and everyone would have to play both sides of the ball. The chances for more injuries would increase."
Nebraska School Activities Association spokesman Jim Angele said no other school has shut down its football program at midseason in recent years.
"It has happened before, but usually in football the team will drop just before the season starts," Angele wrote in an email to The Associated Press.
Morrill is in Class C2, the smallest division that plays 11-man football. Peacock said the school board would consider moving next fall to Class D1, which plays eight-man football, because of declining enrollment.
Peacock said there are about 50 boys in grades 9-12 and that it's disappointing more didn't go out for football this season. He said coaches made a plea for more players before the season but that it was too late to do so again.
Morrill will forfeit its games against Perkins County, Bayard and North Platte St. Patrick's.
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- Posted on October 5, 2011
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just because it has a major streak of loses doesn't mean you shouldn't quit. I would be highly disapointed in who ever quit the team.
So, they are basically punishing the students who stood committed to the team. I feel this is unfair to the remaining players. They might just leave the school so they can play football.
Well that was a smart choice by the coach because there is no point. The people who would be playing would get tired, and that would be the game right there.
So, let me get this straight, your athletic director cancelled the high school football team. C'MON MAN why in the world would you do somthing like that? It doesn't matter if it's 42 or 12, the one's that stayed on the team showed their commitment and their hard work for their school.
I think that it was a good idea to cancel their season because with only 12 players more pressure is on those 12 players and more players might get hurt and they would have forfeit. that would be even worse and a lot more embarrassing. I would personally hate to be on a football team with only 12 players.
I fell bad for this team alot. I feel bad because what if the players love the sport and want to keep playing. I know for sure i would. But even if they love the sport they still did the right thing by cancleing. I think they did the right thing because it would increase the chances of getting hurt and there also just way to short on numbers.
I think canceling the high school football team. Even though there are only 12 kids on the team they should still have something for the kids to play football. the school should have a after school program to play football.
I've never liked the idea of giving up but you can't blame this poor team for quitting. They're just so small in numbers. Also they aren't very good so it must not be very fun.
They shoildnt have cecelled. Even if you dont win you dont just give up like tthat. IF your going to quit like that you shouldnt be on the field in the first place.
I would hate to be part of the morrill lions team. They only have 12 players. They lose a lot. There are more boys in the school but no one wants to play for a losing team. Guess they had to cancel it.