A high school football game in Alabama between Pickens County and Gordo will not be played as scheduled on Friday night. The historic rivalry is canceled for the first time in 100 years.
This decision was announced just two days prior to kickoff due to a post on Facebook.
As a result of the post from the cheer team, the high school football game is not going to happen. It is unclear as
Pickens County and Gordo are high school football rivals in Alabama.
Pickens County High School and Gordo High School are both located in Carrollton, Alabama. They are both members of the Pickens County School District.
Pickens County serves students in grades five through 12. Its student population is majority Black.
Gordo High School serves students in grades seven through 12. Its student population is majority white.
These two schools are separated by less than 10 miles, approximately 20 miles northwest of Tuscaloosa.
Gordo’s high school football team competes on the 3A level. It began the season undefeated at 5-0.
Pickens County’s high school football team competes on the 1A level. It began the season at 2-3.
These two crosstown rivals have played each other every fall for 100 years. Just not this year!
A racially insensitive Facebook post caused the game to be canceled.
This week is “attendance awareness dress up week” at Gordo. It essentially works like “spirit week” at most other schools, where students are encouraged to dress up in a specific theme for each day.
Well, the Gordo Varsity Cheer team posted to Facebook with the concept for game day on Friday.
The post asked students to dress ‘Safari / Tour Guide / Animal.’ The image featured 12 white students dressed in theme. Some of them held stuffed monkeys and bananas. One shirt featured a monkey.
The post was widely criticized as racist and quickly deleted. Remember the racial demographics of these two schools. Gordo is predominantly white. Pickens County is predominantly Black.
Pickens County County School System Superintendent Shawn McDaniel sent a letter to parents in the system on Tuesday. An investigation determined no discrimination or profiling was intended by the post. He also apologized on behalf of the district.
The game was not canceled as of Tuesday evening.
However, Pickens County High School Principal Lee Richardson changed that status on Wednesday afternoon— less than 72 hours before kickoff. He said the cancelation was made “out of an abundance of caution, with the safety and well-being of our students, athletes and community placed above all else.”
It was not Gordo’s decision. Pickens County made the call.
I do not know if this means the Green Wave will be declared the winner by forfeit or if the game effectively disappears from the schedule as if it was never there. Either way, one of the oldest high school football rivalries in Alabama will not be played in 2025.