‘But It Is A Game’
In wake of tragedy, Coastal Carolina-virginia game called off
CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — What looked like a week of opportunity for No. 23 Coastal Carolina quickly became one of grief and unconditional support for the Virginia football team the Chants were supposed to play on Saturday.
That game was called off Wednesday as Virginia continued grieving their three football players killed last Sunday night by a former member of the Cavaliers.
“We play a great game,” Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell said Wednesday. “But it is a game.”
Chadwell has known Virginia coach Tony Elliott for years and told him earlier this week Coastal Carolina was 100 % behind any decision by the Cavaliers.
“We continue to pray for their community, their university and, obviously, this is a difficult time they’re going through,” Chadwell said.
Coastal Carolina has been a Group of Five power in the Sun Belt Conference the past three seasons in just its sixth year in the the FBS.
The Chanticleers were ranked each of the previous two seasons, going 11-1 and 11-2. They finished No. 14 in the final 2020 rankings and won the program’s first bowl game, 47-41 over Northern Illinois in the Cure Bowl this past December.
Quarterback Grayson Mccall, a fourth-year junior back this season, set an NCAA record for pass efficiency with a rating of 207.6 last season.
Coastal Carolina was off to another strong start at 9-1, jumping into the Top 25 for the first time this season after a 26-23 defeat of Southern Miss. In the postgame, Chadwell had pressed the team’s case to be the Group of Five’s representative for a New Year’s Six game.