Pennsylvania School Ends Thanksgiving Football Tradition After 40 Years
Having a tradition is a great thing, especially when it’s a beloved holiday tradition. But, one Pennsylvania school is ending its long Thanksgiving football game tradition. This Turkey Day event has been going on for a whopping 40 years, too.
No More Thanksgiving Football for These Schools
So, why are the schools sacking the game? It’s apparently over safety concerns.
The school, located in Northeast Philadelphia, is Father Judge High School, a Catholic school. The staff took to social media this week to state that they will no longer hold their annual Thanksgiving football game against Abraham Lincoln High School, a public school located nearby.
Regarding why the change, Judge Alumni President Brian Patrick King stated in a letter to the Catholic school’s community that was posted to Judge’s Facebook page that, “After 40+ years, Father Judge High School and Abraham Lincoln High School have reached a joint agreement to cease playing our annual Thanksgiving Day game that has been a long-standing tradition in Northeast Philadelphia.” King knows that it’s a big deal to end a tradition that’s been going on for so long. Many families and members of the community looked forward to this game, which was lovingly called the Turkey Bowl. He wrote that the school didn’t take the decision lightly. Also, the two schools were considering the change for years now. They finally agreed to do it out of safety concerns. “The safety and security of players, referees, and attendees coupled with potential football conflicts with the PIAA and District 12 schedule were some of the driving forces that brought about this decision,” King stated. Comments on the Facebook post are mixed, with many community members mourning the loss of the event. But, some say they understand the reasoning, so they accept it. Hopefully the teams will still get in some good games against each other in the upcoming seasons.
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