Air Academy High School will give up its homecoming varsity football game this Friday rather than take the field short-handed. Academy School District 20 announced the decision, noting in an official communication to families on Oct. 7 that the school "does not have a full coaching staff that would allow [the team] to safely field a varsity football contest." The district did not offer specifics on what drove the staffing gap, though at least one outlet reported seeking additional information from district officials.
The Kadets had been set to host Lutheran at 7 p.m. for the homecoming contest. Air Academy entered the week at 3-3 on the season, while Lutheran stood at 4-2. Lutheran has drawn scrutiny following a pair of recent games against Colorado Springs-area schools, after families from both programs reported being subjected to racist comments — incidents whose source has not been confirmed — at games involving Sand Creek High School on Sept. 24 and Rampart High School on Oct. 2 and 3. Leadership at the schools involved and CHSAA have said they are investigating those incidents.
Even without the varsity game, school officials said the broader homecoming celebration would remain intact. Scheduled festivities are to move forward, among them an aircraft flyover, a parachute drop onto the field, and a program featuring the Air Academy Class of 1976. Rather than a varsity matchup, Air Academy's flag football squad will face The Classical Academy at 7 p.m. Officials noted that flag football holds the distinction of being the most recently sanctioned sport by CHSAA.
District officials framed the forfeit as a matter of student safety and institutional responsibility. The district said it recognizes "the importance of Homecoming and the role these traditions play in bringing students, families, staff and alumni together." School leaders also expressed confidence that the evening could still serve as a meaningful occasion for students and the wider school community to gather and mark the occasion together. The district closed its statement by affirming that it is "committed to a safe and supportive environment for all students."
What caused the coaching staff to fall short of the numbers needed to run a varsity program safely, and whether the situation signals a longer-term challenge for the football program, has not yet been addressed by district officials.