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Preseason Prep Bowl still a go
Updated: August 6, 2011 6:00PM
Friday night’s cancellation of a Bears practice at Soldier Field because of problems with the playing surface hasn’t affected the status of the Preseason Prep Bowl – at least not yet.
Jim McHugh, one of the organizers of the high school tripleheader scheduled for Friday, Aug. 26, said Saturday he had not heard from the Bears or the Chicago Park District about any change in the status of the games.
He also said there were no alternate plans in place in case Soldier Field’s grass playing surface is deemed unplayable again.
“We didn’t put in a contingency plan because it never came up (before),” McHugh said.
The high school event begins with a 2:30 p.m. game between powers Mount Carmel and Simeon, followed by a 5:15 p.m. contest matching Morgan Park and Providence and an 8 p.m. game between St. Ignatius and Young.
The event was played on a Sunday last year, but postponing a day or two is not an option this season, according to McHugh. That’s because a clause in the Bears’ contract with the Park District prohibits events on the field fewer than five days before a Bears game. The team’s final preseason game will be Thursday, Sept. 1 against the Cleveland Browns.
McHugh hopes that problems with the grass field are resolved in time for next Saturday’s preseason opener at home vs. the Buffalo Bills and that they won’t be an issue for the Preseason Prep Bowl.
But canceling the games is not an option, he added. “We’ll react to it (if necessary), because the schools have to get their games in,” McHugh said.
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