It looks like the coronavirus pandemic has put the kabash on another sporting event, even at a time when things have started to return — albeit with precautions. The bowl put out a statement through Tony Dungy and made the announcement on Tuesday.
It has to be a disappointment for many involved in the game, including a record 12 members of the Ohio State class. Below is the complete statement put out by Dungy and the All-American Bowl. The video version is below the text.
“To the 2021 All-American Bowl class, this event has always been about more than playing the game,” Dungy said. “It’s been about honoring the achievements of your careers, both on and off the field. And we look forward to honoring you on January 2 on NBC. It’s been a difficult year on many fronts. Due to this once in a hundred-year pandemic, we’ve made the decision not to play the 2021 All-American Bowl.”
“Please know that your health, and the health and safety of family and friends was at the forefront of that decision. We know that the next step for all of you will be starting your college careers. And as much as we would love to showcase you in the All-American Bowl, we want to protect your future. For more than two decades, the All-American Bowl has introduced the nation to the stars of tomorrow. From Tim Tebow to Trevor Lawrence, to Patrick Peterson to Ndamukong Suh, and countless others, we’ve had the privilege of sharing some of the stories of the biggest stars in the game before they went on to dominate at the next levels. And we want to congratulate you on becoming part of the All-American bowl family.”
“Not playing an actual game does not take away from the honor of being an All-American. And we’ll share the stories of our 2021 All-American Bowl class in December and January on network television. In December, we’ll air the All-American Dream, an hour-long preview special on NBC, showcasing the All-American Bowl and several stories of this year’s All-American class. On Saturday, January 2, we’ll honor the class of 2021 All-Americans during a two-hour show on NBC, which will include several college declarations, unique features, and recognition of all 100 All-Americans.”
“This decision was not easy, but understand that we made it in the best interest of everyone involved. Congratulations on joining the All-American Bowl family, and we look forward to introducing you to the nation on January 2. And to the 2022 All-Americans, we’ll see you in San Antionio, Texas in January of 2022.”
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