Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Freshman Jayden de Laura, seen here passing in the game against Oregon, was diagnosed with COVID-19, among other WSU players.
PULLMAN - For the first time since World War II, the Apple Cup football game between U.W. and WSU may not be played.
The 113th edition, set for Friday at Martin Stadium, was called off Sunday by the PAC-12 Conference, declaring the game a no-contest.
The decision came after WSU did not foresee having a minimum number of scholarship players available for the game, after positive COVID-19 tests and resulting isolation of other players under contract-tracing policies.
"As we work through the remainder of our schedule, we will continue to communicate with the Pac-12 conference and U.W. if any scenario would emerge that would allow us to reschedule the game at a later point in the season," WSU Athletic Director Patrick Chun said in a statement.
WSU's game at Stanford two days ago was also canceled, after the Cougars' scholarship players dropped below 53, the minimum set by the Pac-12.
WSU again is expected to fall below that number this week, Chun said Sunday.
The team has also lost players to injuries, transfers and virus opt-outs.
WSU's remaining schedule includes games at USC on Dec. 4 followed by a home game against California on Dec. 12.
An opportunity for a re-scheduled Apple Cup may be Dec. 19, if neither the Huskies nor Cougars are playing in the PAC-12 championship game that weekend.
The last time an Apple Cup was not played was the back-to-back years 1943 and 1944, the games were canceled due to World War II.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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