Historic Big 33 Football Classic officially canceled for first time since game started in 1958
For more than 60 years — through 12 U.S. presidents, eight recessions and a moon landing — the Big 33 Football Classic has been an annual staple of Pennsylvania sports.
But not this year.
The organization that oversees the game announced Tuesday morning that, for the first time in its history, it will have to cancel the 2020 edition of the prestigious game due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The game — which was set to feature three local student-athletes and a coach — will not be rescheduled from its May 25 kickoff.
“Due to the uncertainty of the weeks ahead with the coronavirus constraints placed upon each individual, our schools, families, and the organizations and businesses that help make this holiday weekend one of the best in the country, we cannot move forward in holding these events or our exciting football games,” Big 33 Executive Director Garry Cathell said in a written statement. “Our top priority is the health, safety and welfare of all of our participants, families, workers, sponsors and fans.”
The Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) has also canceled all of its other major events surrounding Memorial Day weekend, including the East-West Game, the first-ever PSFCA High School Combine, a USA Football 1st Down Clinic and the Military Murph Competition.
Several local student-athletes were also set to take part in the East-West Game, including State College’s Isaiah Edwards, Lokey Howell and Sam Storll. Bellefonte coach Shanon Manning was also poised to be an assistant coach.
They share the same disappointment as the others involved in the Big 33 Football Classic, which has been called the “Super Bowl of High School Football.” Three State College players were on the roster — Addison Darcy, Kevin Kurzinger, Nathan Lusk — while Penns Valley coach Martin Tobias was slated to be an assistant.
According to Tobias, all the coaches were invited to take part in the 2021 game and he plans to take them up on that offer. But, for the players, there are no second chances.
“It’s a huge disappointment, I’m sure, for all of the athletes involved,” Tobias said. “But we’re talking not just the Big 33 Game here, we’re talking lots of athletes across the entire United States who have lost opportunities at spring sports and winter championships. This goes beyond just the Big 33 Game, but obviously the disappointment is there. These student-athletes are missing out on the opportunities they looked forward to and trained for.”
Added State College coach Matt Lintal, referring to his half-dozen players: “We are still extremely proud of them for all of their efforts to earn invitations to these prestigious games. The entire group of our 2020 seniors has truly left its mark on the history books of State College football.”
Tuesday’s decision didn’t come as a surprise. The PIAA announced Thursday that all sports for the 2019-2020 school year were canceled, in response to Gov. Tom Wolf closing all schools in the commonwealth for the rest of the semester. And, on Monday, Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball announced it was also canceling the season.
The Big 33 first started in 1957, when its all-star team was announced but no game was played. The annual game started in 1958 and has continued ever since, featuring future NFL legends such as Joe Namath, Tony Dorsett, Joe Montana, Dan Marino and LaVar Arrington. To this day, every Super Bowl ever played has featured at least one player from the all-star game, which currently pits a team of Pennsylvania all-stars against Maryland’s best.
“It’s a big part of Pennsylvania football,” Tobias added. “It’s something that’s always been there ... but people come first and foremost. Football is a game, and we’re dealing with a real-life situation we all have to be aware of.”
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 11:31 AM.
