As a result of the attacks in New York and Washington D.C. on Tuesday, the Atlantic Coast Conference voted to postpone all sporting events through Saturday, Sept 15.
The decision, made yesterday around 4:45 p.m. by a unanimous vote of the ACC athletics directors, came on the heals of the NCAA's choice to leave sporting event postponements up to the individual conferences.
"It is the opinion of our conference members that this will allow for an appropriate period of reflection and respect for those people who have been impacted by the tragic events that took place yesterday," ACC commissioner John Swofford said. "A good case can be made for playing or not playing the games this Saturday. Our schools thoroughly discussed the situation on their own campuses and with each other and voted unanimously to postpone all athletic events through Saturday. We are praying for the safety, health and recovery of all our fellow Americans."
Five ACC football games, including Duke's matchup in Death Valley against the Clemson Tigers, were also part of the postponements. While some games have already been rescheduled, the Duke-Clemson match has not.
Conferences on the coasts such as, the ACC, Big East and Pac-10 were the only ones to postpone. Others like the SEC have said they will play. The Big Ten and Big XII, although they have yet to make an official announcement, are also expected to play
However, almost everyone in the ACC and in Duke athletics agreed with the move.
"I think it's just the right decision for Duke University," football coach Carl Franks said. "Everybody else in the country's got their own things they need to consider, but I think it's most appropriate for us to do that. I don't think it would be a good idea for us to go get on a plane and fly down there like nothing happened, because something did happen. I think we need to recognize the fact that a lot of people have been affected and life doesn't go on as normal."
Quarterback D. Bryant was quick to echo his coach's sentiments.
"Of course they should have canceled," he said. "When something like this happens you can't just sit around, you have to do something."
Although no one on the football team knows of any deaths, many players, like senior tight end Mike Hart from Sayville, N.Y., were directly effected by the attack.
"I knew one person that was in serious danger," Hart said. "He actually had to run away from the building falling on top of him.... He actually saw the whole thing. He said he thought he was going to die.... It was really hard for me to think, OWhy the hell am I playing football today?'"
Athletics Director Joe Alleva also agreed that, in light of the events, the ACC made the best move.
"Sooner or later, we all have to go on. Everyone is at work today, everyone is at school today and classes are going on. I think we are back to business as normal. But the question is: Is a football game with 70,000 people there normal?"
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