Middletown Cancels North-South Thanksgiving Game Due To COVID

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — To the dismay of some Middletown teens and parents, the school district quietly made the decision this year to cancel the annual North vs. South football game, due to coronavirus concerns.

However —in a surprise announcement at 5:30 p.m. Monday on Facebook — Board of Education president Pam Rogers and vice president Robin Stella, both up for re-election this fall, announced they support putting the game back on the schedule.

"The Thanksgiving Day game is a long-standing tradition in Middletown," said Stella in a Facebook post. "Although it’s an administrative decision, Board leadership (Pam Rogers and Robin Stella) supports putting this game on the schedule (tentatively) to be played, while adhering to applicable safety guidelines. We have been in frequent contact with the Administration on this matter and we are hopeful that we will come to a resolution and I am confident that my fellow Board members support this, as well."

However, it remains up to Middletown superintendent Mary Ellen Walker and Athletic Director Rich Carroll if the Thanksgiving Day game will be brought back. Neither has announced anything official.

"We are playing the annual North/South football game as traditionally as we can given the current circumstances," wrote Middletown Athletic Director Rich Carroll in an email to Ray Jankowski, vice president of the Middletown North Touchdown Club.

"In an effort to make sure student-athletes have the opportunity to participate in this tradition, the game will be played Friday, October 30. Sincerely, Rich Carroll."

But that Oct. 30 is a regularly scheduled game, Jankowski points out. The Thanksgiving Day game does not count in standings. As locals know, it is more about tradition.

It is also beloved in Middletown: The Thanksgiving Day game has happened for the past 45 years. It attracted 4,000 people in the stands last year.

"It's just a thing the community does; the firetrucks are there and anytime someone scores, they put the sirens on. It's really for the seniors and the town to get together one last time," said Jankowski. "It doesn't really count for anything, but it's a tradition. I'm curious if Rich grew up in a town that has this tradition. Maybe he doesn't understand the community traditions around this game."

Jankowski is running for the Middletown Board of Education; his son is also a senior football player at North. Jankowski said he is angered the district not only canceled the game, but also takes issue with the quiet way Carroll made the decision and announcement.

"I said I wanted to talk to him about why. He said, 'Call me' and I said no, email me because I want to see your logic in writing. And I never heard back from him. He ghosted me," said Jankowski. "I can't believe I have to talk to a reporter and beg the administration to let the kids play a cross-town rival. That's the part that really frustrates me."

Every football player at Middletown North signed this petition asking the district to reinstate the Thanksgiving Day game; that petition has 695 signatures so far. Out of respect for COVID, supporters say there are already fan limits in place, fans will wear masks and the game can be livestreamed.

There was already a COVID scare on the South football team in September. And Carroll just sent out an email to players Monday, warning them not to have pasta parties and team dinners, to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.

But Susan Cerbo, the mother of a North football player, said she suspects that COVID is not the actual reason why the game was nixed.

"There's been pressure to get rid of this game for years, because the coaches want their holidays. A lot of towns have gotten rid of their Thanksgiving Day games," she said. "We don't want the same thing to happen to Middletown."

Red Bank Regional, Long Branch, Neptune and Asbury Park (all in the Shore Conference) will still have their annual Thanksgiving Day game football games this year, she pointed out. And Carroll oversees those teams, as he is the district director of the Shore Conference.

"So the teams that he oversees are having their games," she said. "But Middletown cannot do it. And we have people all over town saying we want this game. It's just awful."

She's worried that once the game is canceled in 2020, it will never be brought back.

Cerbo said she was told by the Board of Education that she has to gather signatures, and have students speak at Wednesday night's Board of Ed. meeting.

"The BOE is making us get signatures from the players, cheerleaders and band that they want to play and provide testimonials from the students. Well, some kids are shy, they don't want to speak," fumed Cerbo. "We should not have to struggle like this. Honestly, this is quite reminiscent of the 'Let Them Walk,' when the administration just refused to let our children walk, which we finally protested and won."

"The Board members had heard the administration's perspective and were curious to hear from our students, if they were interested in reaching out on this topic," said Middletown Board of Ed. president Pam Rogers, who is also running for re-election this fall. "I told Mrs. Cerbo that students are welcome to email us any time, as we do advocate for our public. They do not have to rally at a board meeting or make speeches."

Wednesday night's meeting will be held virtually over Zoom.

Cerbo and Jankowski both said they will be speaking at the Middletown Board of Education meeting this Wednesday night.

"This is a 45-year tradition. This is not fair to the seniors. They've been looking forward to this for years," said Cerbo. "This is the last BOE meeting that can help us get this game back on the schedule."

Related: Someone In Middletown South Football Program Positive For COVID (Sept. 27)