The 2020 Charlotte 49ers at North Carolina Tar Heels football game has been canceled due to the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Charlotte has announced.
The game, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020 at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., was canceled due to contact tracing issues at Charlotte amid the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The decision was made due to the impact that contact tracing quarantine has had on a key position group. Several members of the offensive line were placed into quarantine following the University’s COVID-19 contact tracing protocols, effectively depleting that unit.
“We’re extremely disappointed to have to cancel our game at North Carolina. While I know our team is heartbroken, due to the number of players in quarantine, we could not safely play,” said Charlotte Athletic Director Mike Hill. “We very much appreciate the University of North Carolina working with us to schedule this game.”
Charlotte opened the 2020 season on Saturday, Sept. 12 with a 35-20 loss at the Appalachian State Mountaineers. The 49ers’ next scheduled game is Saturday, Sept. 26 at home against the Georgia State Panthers.
North Carolina is 1-0 so far this season following a 31-6 home victory over the Syracuse Orange. The Tar Heels are next slated to travel to take on the Boston College Eagles on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Since North Carolina has Sept. 26 open, they will search for a replacement game.
“This certainly is disappointing, especially for the student-athletes on both teams who had prepared hard for this game and were really looking forward to this match-up,” North Carolina Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham said. “We knew when we decided to play football in this environment that cancellations would be a possibility, because the health and safety of our teams and community is our priority. We are looking at opportunities to add an opponent on Saturday, Sept. 26, which is currently scheduled as an open date.”
Teams with open dates that could possibly play North Carolina on Sept. 26 include Abilene Christian, Coastal Carolina, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Navy, and Western Kentucky.
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