Last night, Sept. 10 at 9:26 pm Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey’s Executive Director issued a statement regarding the abrupt stoppage of an overtime game between Temple and Maine by an official of Kent State, so that fireworks could be set off near the adjacent football stadium scheduled for one hour and 15 minutes later.
” The unfortunate abrupt cancellation of the University of Maine versus Temple University NCAA Division 1 field hockey match played at Kent State University on Saturday, September 7 has caused great concern within out sport. The appearance is that the student athletes playing field hockey were not given the appropriate opportunity to complete their game due to circumstances around the start of the football pre-game fireworks and competition to follow.
As the National Governing Body for the sport of field hockey, we at USA Field Hockey are passionate that all who participate in this sport are given a fair opportunity to compete. Not allowing the teams to continue the contest following a single overtime and scoreless game hinders that chance and diminishes acceptance of field hockey. As we continue to grow this sport in the United States, this situation makes it even more difficult to empower our athletes and the field hockey community. We take. pride in the representation of the sport at the collegiate level and rely on it for the furthering our success on the national and international stage.
We at USA Field Hockey applaud both the University of Maine and Temple University for their handling of the situation and will continue to support the idea that ALL STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE RIGHT TO COMPETE.”
Well said Simon!!
Since the initial reports on Saturday, there have been strong statements by Temple, national media, and Maine. The first remarks by Kent State were tepid at first, but after having time to absorb the impact, they made a stronger statement.
The University of Maine’s head coach and players had a televised press conference yesterday and the emotion was palpable. I would have liked to have seen the administration of the University of Maine at that conference as well in support! The Temple administration issued a statement Monday that was right on point.
WHERE IS THE NCAA?? Their absence of any action, is deafening to the senses. Perhaps they are chasing down minor compliance violations like flawed paperwork or an ice cream cone bought by a booster for a friend’s family member at a game. This action by Kent State is a direct violation of Title IX. I don’t want to see the Kent Field Hockey program punished but perhaps a remedy that benefits all parties should be applied.
All athletic administrations should be in support of remedies that make sense. I would like to see more support from a variety of sources which will force the NCAA to take action. Perhaps their worry is that the ultimate consequence might be additional mandated monetary support for women’s athletics!!
I want equal access, no diversion of funds, equal pay, especially for asst, coaches, travel expenses on par with all sports. Again at the moment it looks like the NCAA has failed again. I hope I am wrong!!
William Rappolt
Lafayette College Field Hockey 