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After the announcement, people had questions. On Thursday, Aug. 15, Cumberland County Public Schools announced that there wouldn’t be a varsity football team this year at Cumberland High. The junior varsity will operate like normal, but there will be no games on Fridays this season for the Cumberland Dukes. 

It was something district staff, administrators and coaches had discussed for weeks, waiting to see how many older players would commit. But at this point in the school year, when teams are installing playbooks and holding scrimmages, Cumberland just didn’t have enough upperclassmen. 

“After careful consideration of several key factors, including the number of players in the upper grade levels and the safety of our younger athletes, we have decided to cancel the varsity football season for this year,” Cumberland Superintendent Chip Jones wrote in a message that went out on social media. 

The main focus, Jones said, was about protecting the players. The concern was that if they went ahead with a team of so many underclassmen, it would be inviting serious injury. There’s a big difference with eighth and ninth graders competing on junior varsity against other players their age and squaring up against a 6’1 ft., 250 lb. senior on the other side. Instead of trying to promote players before they’re ready, Jones and his staff decided to keep the jv team going and work on developing for the future. 

“Our goal is to rebuild the football program at Cumberland County Public Schools,” Jones told The Herald. “At times, you have to make decisions that are not always popular. This entails looking at the current situation and stepping back if needed.” 

This comes on the heels of a 2023-24 season that saw the team go winless, giving up 446 points on defense. And part of that stems from filling out a varsity squad with what they’re trying to avoid this year, a majority of underclassmen, with even some eighth graders in the mix. 

Cumberland Dukes raise questions

Understandably, a decision like this led to several questions. Readers reached out to The Herald and we, in turn, asked Jones. One of the most asked questions involved Homecoming. Traditionally, that’s happened at halftime of a fall football game at Cumberland High. What about this year? Jones said there will still be a Homecoming Court, Homecoming King and Queen and everything else that students and alumni expect. It just won’t be at a varsity football game. 

“Plans are underway to have a Homecoming Week 2024 for Cumberland High, as well as any recognitions,” Jones said. 

It’s possible that the date could simply change, with it being held on a Wednesday night at halftime of a junior varsity football game. Or perhaps it’ll be held during another one of the fall sports at the school. That’s something being discussed. And as a date and plan for Homecoming is set, district officials will make an announcement. 

That leads to the second question. Yes, the junior varsity team will have home games at Cumberland High this season. Their schedule will remain the same. Jones said the only difference is that the only football games this season at the school will be on Wednesday nights instead of Friday nights.
“This shift will allow our community to rally around our JV team and continue to showcase our #DukePride,” Jones said. 

What about the other teams? 

Now we shift to talk about the impact this decision has on the rest of the region. All the schools that had the Cumberland Dukes on the schedule now have a hole in the season. The question is what happens with it now. 

“The plan is to try and fill that spot,” Prince Edward Athletic Director Chris Baird said. “It’s just difficult because it is the last game of the season but we do have a bye week early on that may be a possibility if needed. We’ll see.” 

Other athletic directors and coaches responded the same way to texts and phone calls. They all have a hole in the schedule now and it needs to be filled. The only problem is finding a team with a similar hole in the schedule on that exact date. Since this process started late, most schedules are made.