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SEC Indefinitely Postpones All Athletic Events
Sept. 13, 2001
OXFORD, Miss. - ,The University of Mississippi, along with the Southeastern Conference, announced Thursday that it will join all of the other major sports entities in the nation and postpone this weekend's scheduled athletic events, including Saturday's college football schedule. Ole Miss was slated to host Vanderbilt in a 11:30 a.m., contest at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field in Oxford. No make-up date has been announced. "Ole Miss joins our sister institutions in expressing our deepest sympathy to the victims and their loved ones affected by the terrible tragedy," said Ole Miss Athletics Director John Shafer. The Conference office also stated in a release that it "believes this country must begin the healing process following the horrendous events of this past week, and will evaluate all future schedules at an appropriate time." "As I said before, I was willing to support whatever decision that was made," Ole Miss head football coach David Cutcliffe said. "People that were in that decision-making process have a lot more information than I have. We certainly are saddened, as all Americans are, by the events. It's an unusual circumstance. None of us have past experience to draw on. "Our team certainly feels the sadness, but we have a responsibility to try to continue as our leadership has asked us to do. We'll do our part to do that as best we can." With Saturday's Vanderbilt game postponed, plans called for the Rebel football team to have a normal practice Thursday afternoon before breaking for the weekend. Ole Miss' next scheduled game is September 29 at Kentucky. "Following the break, we'll resume practice next Monday and work through next Thursday, focusing on getting Ole Miss better and starting preparations for our game at Kentucky," Cutcliffe said. The SEC also reaffirmed its commitment of $1,000,000 to the funds that will assist the victims of this event. In events involving other Ole Miss teams, the women's volleyball team on Wednesday canceled its planned trip to Minneapolis, Minn., for the Diet Coke Classic that was scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the University of Minnesota. Ole Miss' next scheduled game is Friday, Sept. 21 at Alabama. The Rebel soccer team was to host Jacksonville State, Saturday at 3 p.m., in its home opener. That contest was originally slated for Friday night, but was moved to Saturday when Friday was declared a National Day of Prayer and Rememberance. The Rebels were also scheduled to play Sunday at Memphis. That game has been moved to Monday. No start time has been announced.
POSTPONED OLE MISS ATHLETIC EVENTS
SATURDAY, SEPT. 15
SUNDAY, SEPT. 16 |
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