Saturday’s game between Florida International University and Louisiana Tech has been canceled due to a shorthanded position group impacted by COVID-19 on the Panthers team.
“Due to FIU football’s lack of available healthy players at a key position, the Nov. 28 game against Louisiana Tech has been canceled,” was the extent of the statement released by FIU on Monday.
The Conference USA game will not be rescheduled. FIU is 0-3 in the East division; the Bulldogs are 3-2 in the West.
It’s the fourth straight week that La. Tech has had a game postponed or canceled outright, due to the pandemic. The Bulldogs haven’t played since Oct. 31.
“This is a disappointing announcement for our program and our fan base, but we understand that FIU is protecting their student-athletes,” La. Tech athletic director Eric Wood said in a statement. “We were really hoping to get back on the football field this coming weekend and allow our student-athletes to compete and represent their university. However, these things are out of our control with testing and contract tracing.”
La. Tech is scheduled to play North Texas in a makeup game on Dec. 3. That game was postponed from Nov. 7 due to COVID complications in the Mean Green program.
The cancellation marks the sixth postponement or cancellation for FIU. The Panthers are scheduled to play at Charlotte on Dec. 5.
