Sept. 11, 2001
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University athletic director Mike Roth said Wednesday's volleyball match against the University of Washington scheduled for the Martin Centre on the Bulldogs campus has been cancelled in the wake of Tuesday's national tragedy involving the World Trade Center and The Pentagon.
There was no immediate decision if the match will be re-scheduled, Roth said.
Roth said all mandatory team activities for Tuesday have been cancelled, leaving it up to the discretion of student-athletes on an individual basis as to whether or not they preferred to work out.
In related news, the NCAA Executive Committee will meet via telephone at 1 p.m. Pacific time Wednesday to review the conduct of intercollegiate athletics events in the near future.
"The games themselves are insignificant in the face of what has happened today," NCAA president Cedric Dempsey said in a prepared release distributed to all NCAA institutions. "Our focus is entirely on the safety of student-athletes, athletics personnel and fans. We urge schools to make sound decisions about proceeding with contests today and in the coming days."
The NCAA will also cooperate with any executive orders that may be issued by President Bush.
Pending the outcome of Wednesday's conference call, Roth also said the status of upcoming home events this weekend will be determined on a day-to-day basis as events unfold. The Bulldogs are scheduled to host Fresno State University and Washington men's soccer teams, Idaho State University and Boise State University women's soccer teams, and Lehigh University, Malaspina College of British Columbia and Eastern Washington University in the Spikeoff Spokane volleyball tournament this weekend.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have been directly affected by this unfortunate tragedy," Gonzaga President Rev. Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., said. "Reports continue to reach us of not only our student-athletes, but of the entire university community, being personally touched in some means by today's events. Our first concern is for the personal welfare of those who have been impacted in the aftermath of these needless acts. We can only reach out and let those people know that our thoughts and prayers are with them."
While the university has continued its class schedule and other operations, university administrators have urged faculty members to use the time to let students express themselves concerning the tragedy. Supervisors were also asked to allow for flexibility as members of the university community have special needs during this time.
In addition to the emotional trauma of individuals, Roth said one of the concerns facing athletic departments is air travel.
"For instance, Lehigh is flying from Philadelphia to be in our volleyball tournament. That may not be feasible at this time," Roth said.
Roth said Gonzaga's women's golf team is completing its two-day tournament Tuesday at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., but the team's return to Spokane will definitely be delayed. An moratorium on all air travel has been imposed nationally until at least 9 a.m. Pacific time Wednesday.
"The teams had already teed off this morning when we heard about the tragedy," CSU assistant sports information director Heather Kennedy said of the decision to continue with today's play.
