The aftermath of Hurricane Gustav forced St. Tammany Parish Public Schools to cancel all weekend activities. The cancellation includes all sporting events and Friday night football. Regular activities will resume when school reopens on Monday.

“We are very sensitive to the fact our first responders have been on duty since Gustav came ashore, and we don’t want to interfere with their recovery efforts,” said Schools Superintendent Gayle Sloan.

Larry Favre, director of athletics for St. Tammany Parish Schools, said they are being extremely sensitive to law enforcement officials and first responders. “We realize the already tough job they are handling. They have more important things to handle like providing support to returning citizens,” Favre said.

“Our student athletes and their families are so dedicated to their schools and programs that if games were held, they would do whatever it takes to be there,” Favre added.

“We felt that would be too much of an extra burden on the parents, possibly trying to return earlier. We would rather have them focus on the safety and well-being of their families and not be concerned with trying to get back for a sporting event.”

Favre said there are large portions of the parish still without power.

“I know our dedicated coaches want to get their games in, but it was the right thing to do canceling the games. We had to do what was best for everybody,” Favre said.

Favre said School Board officials are still in the process of trying to evaluate all of the school facilities, including gymnasiums, stadiums, lights and scoreboards.

Favre said canceled football games would not be rescheduled, but volleyball and cross country events could be rescheduled at the coaches’ discretion.

Malter Scobel, Covington High’s first-year coach, evacuated his family to Birmingham, Ala., and returned to Covington yesterday.

“I think the majority of our players stayed in the local area. There may have been about 15 or 20 players who departed with their families,” Scobel said.

The Covington Lions, fresh off their 27-0 victory over the Pine Raiders in their jamboree Aug. 29, are scheduled to practice today and tomorrow.

Scobel said a lot of his players have sent him text messages to stay in touch.

“Our players are excited to get back to work following the jamboree victory,” Scobel said. “They are raring to go. They are anxious to get back into a football rhythm. We will have a couple of long practices, but not necessarily just on the field.”

Covington High is scheduled to kickoff the season Sept. 12 at Franklinton.

Fontainebleau Bulldogs second-year coach Gregg Hudson said he stayed in the area during Hurricane Gustav.

“A number of our players have been checking in periodically with text messages. I have learned how to type a little faster with my thumb when texting them back,” Hudson said.

Hudson said some of his players evacuated to places like Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

The FHS coaching staff planned to meet today to review jamboree film of Jesuit. The Bulldogs host the Blue Jays Sept. 12.

Mandeville coach Guy LeCompte said he had a number of players relocate during the hurricane.

“Everyone’s story was different. The majority of our players are either at home or are in the process of heading home,” LeCompte said.

“I’m waiting for everybody to get settled. Our players need to have an opportunity to get back to their normal routine. Once they are settled, we’ll put our energy and efforts into focusing on our next opponent (West Jefferson),” LeCompte added.

The Mandeville Skippers were scheduled to open their season against the Klein Oak Panthers out of Spring, Texas on Sept. 1 in Texas Stadium, but the trip was cancelled with the onslaught of Hurricane Gustav.

The Skippers will host the West Jefferson Buccaneers to open the regular season Sept. 12.

Slidell Tigers second-year head coach Artie Liuzza said he felt canceling tonight’s games was the right thing to do under the circumstances.

“I’ve got kids as far away as Massachusetts. Some are in Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. These kids are under a lot of stress,” Liuzza said.

Liuzza felt it would be good to get back into the normal swing, but he feels it’s better to ease back into it.

“Once our players return home, they’ll have to help their parents. They don’t need the added stress of preparing for a game. I’d love to play, but when you’re in south Louisiana, you have to be flexible,” Liuzza said.

The Slidell Tigers will host the Salmen Spartans Sept. 12.

Pearl River High head coach Joe Harris said he has talked to approximately 30 to 40 of his players, and most stayed in the local area.

The Rebels scheduled a practice yesterday to see who would actually show up.

Harris talked about the decision to cancel tonight’s football games.

“It’s their decision. I work for the central office. Whatever they decide, I’ll back them 100 percent. It’s out of our control. You can’t do anything but move forward. You’ve got to roll with the punches,” Harris said.