Report: Truth about UCLA team-wide vote regarding cancellation revealed

Chip Kelly’s UCLA Bruins were forced to drop out of Tuesday night’s Holiday Bowl matchup with the NC State Wolfpack after a slew of positive COVID-19 test results, and shortly thereafter, rumors circulated on Twitter that the Bruins voted against playing the game.

Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported that UCLA’s defensive line room was “decimated,” and subsequent rumors claimed that the Bruins, when polled about whether they want to play shorthanded, had a majority vote saying no. Unsurprisingly, that rumor had no validity to it, according to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

“No truth to the rumor that there was a players vote at UCLA about whether they played in the Holiday Bowl tonight or not,” Feldman reported Tuesday. “There was never a vote, and the school wouldn’t do that on a medical player safety decision, per source.”

Thompson-Robinson defends Bruins, denies team-wide vote

The rumor still spread throughout the Wolfpack’s fanbase, and NC State wide receiver Thayer Thomas got a hold of it on Twitter. Thomas called out the Bruins on Twitter, to which UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson took issue.

Thomas quote tweeted a quote from Kelly on Monday saying “our mindset is if we have 11, we will play.” Thomas was skeptical of Kelly’s statement.

“Then why did they have a team vote on whether to play or not?” Thomas said. “And they voted no.”

Thompson-Robinson was quick to shoot down that rumor, explaining that UCLA was as disappointed as NC State to hear the news of the Holiday Bowl’s cancellation.

“A Team vote?” Thompson-Robinson quipped, adding a laughing emoji. “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.”

NC State-UCLA Holiday Bowl matchup called off

“We are extremely grateful to the Holiday Bowl, students, fans, sponsors, and the people of San Diego for their support this week,” UCLA Athletic Director Martin Jarmond said. “We are deeply disappointed for our young men in the football program that worked extremely hard for this opportunity. My heart goes out to them. The health and safety of our students will always be our North Star.”

The cancelation news comes less than five hours before the game was supposed to kickoff.

UCLA will now end the season with an 8-4 record, their first winning season under head coach Chip Kelly. The Bruins won their final three games of the year, including a victory over cross-town rival USC.

Feldman also reported the Bruins were down to just two interior defensive linemen, with a linebacker preparing to play as the backup nose tackle. However, due to even more COVID-19 problems, there was no choice but to cancel the Holiday Bowl.

On the other hand, North Carolina State was going for a 10 win season in the Holiday Bowl — something the program had not accomplished since 2002. Their Nov. 13 loss to Wake Forest was the difference between an ACC Championship appearance.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.