The game between Hawaii and Memphis, scheduled for December 24, was canceled the day before due to the outbreak of the virus in the Hawaiian Islands.
HONOLULU – El Hawaii Bowl was canceled on Thursday, the day before it took place, after the local team withdrew from the match due to a series of problems with the COVID-19, injuries and transfers, which left out several players.
“We are disappointed that our season is ending in this way,” said the coach of Hawaii, Todd Graham, it’s a statement. “Although we are competitive and we wanted a lot to play this game, we cannot put the health of our student-athletes at risk.”
The match was scheduled for this Friday at the Clarence TC Ching Athletics Complex.
Derek Inouchi, spokesman for the sports department of Hawaii, said that some 30 players and employees recently tested positive for COVID-19. Cases have increased by Honolulu during the last two weeks.
On the island of Oahu, the average number of new cases in the last seven days was 11 times higher on Thursday, compared to December 8.
“The health of our student-athletes is the most important part of this decision,” said David Martin, athletic director of Hawaii, it’s a statement.
Hawaii finished the season 6-8. They qualified for this collegiate bowl at home because there were no teams available with a 6-6 record.
His rivals would be the Memphis Tigers, which finished precisely with a 6-6 record.
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