OU/Arizona State Football Series Cancelled

Dec. 6, 2000

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma has cancelled its previously scheduled football game at Arizona State University on Sept. 21, 2002, OU Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione announced today.

Castiglione notified ASU Director of Athletics Gene Smith of the decision.

"We initiated the contact with Arizona State to resolve a scheduling conflict we had in 2002," said Castiglione. "We sincerely hoped we could reschedule the 2002 game at Arizona State for another year. We worked diligently for many months attempting to find a solution that would work for both programs. Unfortunately, none of the options fit either program's future schedules. Therefore, Oklahoma exercised the option in the contract to cancel the 2002 game."

As a result of Oklahoma's cancellation, ASU has opted not to play in Norman on Sept. 1, 2001, for that previously scheduled game. ASU notified OU of its decision recently.

"We are disappointed that the game in Tempe was cancelled," said Smith. "Once that happened, it made no sense for us to travel to Norman for one game with no return to Sun Devil Stadium. We will now turn our attention to filling these dates for 2001 and 2002."

The two institutions have agreed to pursue other scheduling opportunities in the future, although Arizona State's schedule is completed through 2008.

Castiglione said OU is close to finalizing its 2001 schedule and is hoping to announce the slate sometime this month.