Sept. 13, 2001
DALLAS, Texas -
The Big 12 Conference announced late Wednesday that it will return to conference competition beginning Saturday and is also encouraging its members to resume non-conference competition unless there are transportation or other issues that are not resolvable.
Saturday's competition will include five conference volleyball matches and football competition as listed below. Teams in other sports may also have non-conference games scheduled.
"It is the strong sentiment of our presidents/chancellors and athletic directors that we return to normal operations as soon as is reasonably possible, said Big 12 Conference commissioner Kevin Weiberg. "Our campuses have remained open through this tragedy and we feel it is very important that we demonstrate that we can move forward with our events. President Bush has encouraged a return to normal activities as being an important part of our response to this great tragedy and we want to do our part in that effort."
In addition, the Conference's presidents and chancellors have committed to appropriate recognition of this disaster at each campus and within the athletic events that occur during the remainder of the year. The Conference will also commit $1 million in funding from Conference and institutional support for disaster relief funds.
"So many lives have been impacted by these events," Commissioner Weiberg said. "Our heartfelt prayers and thoughts go to all the family members and victims."
"We have consulted carefully with members of our governance structure as well as the NCAA and other appropriate agencies. The safety of our athletes and fans has been a primary concern throughout our deliberations and it will continue to be as we go forward in the next few days," Weiberg concluded.
Rice respectfully declined to play on Saturday, Sept. 15 and requested a change in schedule. Nebraska and Rice both have open weekends on Sept. 22, however, Rice's next game is at the University of Hawaii on Sept. 29 and their travel plans have them scheduled to leave for Honolulu on Tuesday or Wednesday, Sept. 25 or 26. In addition, Rice had difficulty securing transportation for the 22nd. Rice administration expressed interest in moving the game to the end of the season, but scheduling conflicts prevented the change. In the interest of compromise and at the risk of losing the game completely, Nebraska and Rice have agreed to play on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m., in Memorial Stadium.
Director of Athletics Bill Byrne, who is attending the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet meeting in Philadelphia, Pa., said, "We understand the gravity of the situation. This tragedy has affected us all in many ways. We are dealing with circumstances we have never had to deal with before, and hope and pray that we will never have to deal with again. We feel the best solution will be to play on Thursday of next week."
Chancellor Harvey Perlman said, "We know this will be an inconvenience for our fans and business owners, however, the only other alternative was to cancel the game entirely. I know that under these trying circumstances, Nebraskans will rise to the occasion and come and support the team on Thursday evening."
Nebraska will collect donations for the families of victims outside the gates at the Rice game on Sept. 20. Fans can also donate on-line at Huskers.com.
Several of Nebraska's other events have also had schedule changes because of the tragedies suffered in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.
The Nebraska volleyball team was scheduled to host Texas Tech on Saturday. That game will proceed, assuming Texas Tech will be able to make the appropriate travel arrangements.
The men's and women's Woody Greeno cross country meet, scheduled for Saturday morning at Pioneers Park, will continue as scheduled.
The Nebraska women's soccer team has canceled both matches scheduled in Portland, Ore., for this weekend. The Huskers were scheduled to play Washington on Friday and Portland on Sunday.
The Husker women's golf team was scheduled to fly, but will now drive, to their competition at the University of Minnesota on Saturday and Sunday.
Schedules as of 6 p.m. (CDT) Wednesday include (all times Central Daylight unless noted):
FOOTBALL- Wyoming at Kansas, 11:30 a.m., Missouri at Michigan State, Noon, Colorado at Washington State, 1:30 (MDT)/2:30 p.m. (CDT), Iowa at Iowa State, 2:30 p.m., Rice at Nebraska (pending), 6 p.m., Louisiana Tech at Kansas State, 6:10 p.m., Tulsa at Oklahoma, 6:30 p.m., Northern Arizona at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m., Baylor at Minnesota, 7 p.m., Texas Tech at Texas-El Paso, 8:05 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL- Texas Tech at Nebraska, 1 p.m., Colorado at Oklahoma, 2 p.m., Kansas at Baylor, 7 p.m., Iowa State at Missouri, 7 p.m., Kansas State at Texas A&M, 7 p.m., Auburn at Texas (Texas Invitational), 7 p.m.
All schedules are subject to change should national developments warrant. The Conference would then reconvene to consider the appropriate course of action.
