AJ McClung Memorial Stadium halts hosting HS football for remainder of year

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - The revised MCSD football schedule has been released.

All times are 7ET unless otherwise listed. The previously scheduled games at AJ McClung Memorial Stadium is as follows:

09/15: Southwest @ Jordan moved from Memorial to Odis Spencer

09/15: Kendrick @ Spencer at Odis Spencer moved from Friday to Thursday 09/14.

09/22 Hapeville @ Carver moved from Friday at Memorial to Saturday 09/23 at Kinnett (2p)

10/6: Northeast @ Kendrick moved from Friday at Memorial to Thursday 10/5 at Kinnett.

10/19: Central Macon @ Jordan moved from Thursday at Memorial to Saturday 10/21 at Odis Spencer (Noon)

High School varsity football games will no longer be played at AJ McClung Memorial Stadium for the remaining season according to Muscogee County superintendent, David Lewis.

The change comes after a fight during the 61st annual Heritage Bowl football game held at the stadium on Aug. 25 leading to the game being suspended.

The games scheduled that were scheduled to be at the memorial stadium will be rescheduled to another location.

According to Lewis and MCSD athletic director, Jeff Battles, the change is due to two reasons.

First, the school district does not own AJ McClung Memorial Stadium, the city of Columbus does. Then, they are not comfortable with their ability to adequately staff the stadium.

“I think the staffing part was the key to everything until we can feel comfortable with that then we feel we need to stay at the stadiums that we can staff ourselves,” Battles said.

“We will continue to look at that, evaluate that and determine if that facility is something we can safely hold events in going forward,” Lewis said.

Dr. Lewis also made it clear that the students at Carver and Spencer High Schools were not at at fault for the incident, and their principals acted accordingly. However, it was a small group of middle school and younger students who started the ordeal.

You can click here to find out the other changes being implemented to ensure safety in future events.

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