NC State WR, UCLA QB engage in Twitter exchange over Holiday Bowl cancellation

The Holiday Bowl between UCLA and NC State was scrapped on Tuesday just hours before the 2 teams’ 8 p.m. ET kickoff in San Diego due to COVID-19 issues within the Bruins’ program.

It obviously wasn’t the first time a bowl game has been cancelled in the wake of the omicron variation upending sporting events across the country, but the short notice—less than 5 hours from the start of the game—has been a source of frustration. That’s especially true in the NC State camp as Wolfpack players and staff were forced to fly cross-country for a game that ended up not taking place, as opposed to the Bruins’ quick bus ride from Los Angeles.

UCLA coach Chip Kelly told media on Monday that the program tests players all the way until game time and implied that they’d find a way to play even if COVID cases did pop up within the roster. However, Wolfpack wide receiver Thayer Thomas on Twitter implied that Bruins players simply were looking to take the easy way out of the game. That was met by a reply to the contrary from UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, which you can see below:

a Team vote ? ? we are still here in this hotel, if it was up to the players we can play y’all in the parking lot for all we care.

— ? (@DoriansTweets) December 28, 2021

Meanwhile, NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan released a statement saying that the program was looking for a replacement with the Bruins unable to play. It remains to be seen what solution, if any, the Wolfpack come up with.

Sydney Hunte

Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.