MNW-Pahokee Classic Canceled

According to Michael Langston, the ME of Florida Varsity, the kickoff classic schedule for August 28 between Miami Northwestern and Pahokee has been canceled.

Here is the full post:

I've confirmed through multiple sources from both Pahokee and Northwestern that the kick-off classic game scheduled for August 28th between the two high school powers has been cancelled. Both teams have already started finding replacements for the game. As far as a reason goes we hear the Northwestern was looking to move the game to Miami and Pahokee was pretty dead set on keeping the game at Pahokee. In addition, the two schools have had some heated exchanges at a few
camps this spring and summer adding fuel to the fire which pushed the decision to not play this contest.

Not surprising news when you think about it. It was hard to believe that Northwestern would agree to the game being in Pahokee to begin with giving the potential crowd situation. Pahokee holds about 5-6,000 comfortably and can get up to 9-10,000 or more uncomfortably for the Muck Bowl. Not sure what kind of attendance we're looking at for this one. 10,000 is a safe estimate I suppose.

FIU Stadium, if it were available, would have probably been a better site or they could have just split things down the center and held it at Lockhart Stadium.

Either way it's pretty disappointing but probably the best thing for both schools. There could have been a crowd control issue and a potential safety issue plus it's obvious both coaching staffs were concerned about the issues that were being displayed as these off-season camps.

I expect we'll see these two programs give it another go in 2010 and I hope many of the lingering issues between now and then are worked out.