High School Drops Football After Just 2 Weeks

Walsingham Academy has dropped its plan to field its first varsity football team this fall.

Because of a lack of numbers, school officials decided last week it would not be feasible. Ned Cheely, the Trojans’ athletic director, said there were only two dozen players on the roster when they decided to cancel the season.

“It was solely a numbers issue,” Cheely said. “We had practice for (two) weeks with both the middle school and varsity, and we said last week we would look at the numbers and re-evaluate. It was apparent we didn’t have the number of boys to sustain a program and allow for the inevitable injuries and attrition.

“As of now, we’re continuing to evaluate the middle school team. There are no games on the schedule for the immediate future, which will give the middle school program an opportunity to grow in terms of numbers.”

Cheely was hopeful more players would turn out in the second week of practice, allowing for the possibility that some were on family vacations. But that didn’t happen.

Glenn Tidwell, who was hired as Walsingham’s coach on Aug. 4, could not be reached for comment Thursday.