I reported yesterday that Mississippi State was looking to get a forfeit win against Nicholls State on Sunday after a disagreement between the two schools on whether or not the game was canceled. (Full article available here.) The NCAA has ruled on the situation and has ruled it a no-contest. The full press release is below from Nicholls State.
THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University athletics department issued a statement today concerning Sunday’s baseball game at Starkville, Miss against Mississippi State, using NCAA Rules to clarify the situation.
“I wish to correct a misunderstanding regarding the cancelled baseball game between Nicholls State and Mississippi State. I believe MSU baseball coach John Cohen and Southeastern Conference representative Chuck Dunlap misspoke in referring to our game as a forfeit,” said Nicholls State Athletic Director Rob Bernardi.
A check of the NCAA Baseball Rule Book indicates that the game be ruled a no contest. This was confirmed with representatives from the NCAA.
Section 4-2b, states that the umpire in charge (UIC) will consult with game administration to determine suspension, resumption or termination once a game has begun. Only the UIC can suspend play once the game has begun since the officiating crew was not able to arrive due to the weather conditions, no one was available to start the game. Given the poor field conditions and lack of NCAA officials at the site,the game is ruled a no contest.
“It was certainly a reasonable decision to cancel the game, given the circumstances. Games scheduled at the University of Mississippi, Auburn University and the University of Alabama were cancelled due to weather related conditions. Again, those games were cancelled, not forfeited,” said Bernardi.
“I fully expect that Mississippi State will adjust its record accordingly,” added Bernardi.
4 comments
From the other side of things:
http://tinyurl.com/aor28r
This is ridiculous, the only reason there wasn’t an NCAA crew in Starkville is because Cohen told them not to come when NSU got on the bus and headed home. Bernardi is just trying to save a little face because his coach quit on him and it sent a terrible message to their players and to their fans about the state of their program. Even if there was a high school crew set up (which everybody knows couldn’t have been the case) why not just play it for the sake of playing it? It doesn’t make sense to me.
I just report the stories
Nicholls State’s coach either lied to his AD or the AD is lying to protect him. Wow. Got CAUGHT lying, too.
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