West Chester-Cheyney game could be impacted by striking trainers
RADNOR >> As of Thursday, West Chester’s homecoming football game with Cheyney Saturday afternoon at Farrell Stadium is on, despite the strike by faculty members at the 14 state-affiliated universities.
Whether the game to be seen.
“I’m hoping we play,” coach Chris Roulhac said.
At issue from the athletic point of view is the athletic trainers, who are members of the faculty and part of the work stoppage.
Although the coaches are part of the same union as the faculty, they are not part of the strike, Roulhac and West Chester coach Bill Zwaan said. The issues involving the coaches have been resolved so the coaches are contractually obligated to perform their duties.
“We should be signing a contract, but we kind of have held off for the faculty,” Zwaan said. The trainers are a different matter. “The athletic trainers are faculty so none of them are working,” Zwaan said. “We don’t have athletic trainers right now. The administration is telling us that they’re going to handle all that.”
Neither coach is taking any chances. West Chester (4-3 overall, 3-1 PSAC East) conducted a walk-through practice Wednesday, Zwaan said. Cheyney changed its practice schedule to accommodate the absence of trainers. The Wolves (1-6, 0-4) went in full gear Monday and Tuesday, were off Wednesday, and went through a walkthrough Thursday, Roulhac said.
“We’re prepared to play, but the trainers are the issue,” Roulhac said. “My administration has not said anything about getting trainers or not getting trainers so we can get on the bus and go over there and not have anybody to tape us. So that’s where we are with that.”
“Division II and Division III coaches learn how to adapt to everything at some point in time and this is something is played remains Cheyney else that we’ll have to adapt to,” Zwaan said.
In other action this weekend:
Widener at Misericordia 1 p.m. Saturday
The Pride (4-2, 4-1 Middle Atlantic Conference) is looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s 45-21 loss to No. 15 Stevenson.
Widener is still very much in the conference championship race. If the Pride can win out and someone can knock off the Mustangs, Widener can grab at least a share of the league title. However, that’s easier said than done.
The Pride still has to play Albright and No. 25 Delaware Valley. All three teams have one loss in the league and are tied for second behind Stevenson.
Widener will have to make its championship and playoff push without leading rusher Donte Harrell. The sophomore suffered a season-ending knee injury in the loss to Stevenson. Harrell was leading the league in rushing until he got hurt. Freshman Chris Randle filled in nicely. He ran for 132 yards and three touchdowns against the Mustangs. He ranks sixth in the MAC in rushing (71.5 yards per game).
Misericordia (0-6, 0-5) has lost seven straight dating back to last season and has not beaten Widener since its football program started in 2012.
Valley Forge MC at Williamson 1 p.m. Saturday
The Mechanics (3-3) got back on the winning track with a 28-14 comefrom-behind victory over Gattaca College. Andrew Hicks was the USCAA Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. He ran for 115 yards and scored two touchdowns. Teammate Rakeim Woodland returned a punt 78 yards for a score to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
The Cadets (1-6) earned their first win of the season with a 30-0 rout of Delaware Valley’s JV team. VFMC leads the series, 21-2.