No more games: Bishop England, Philip Simmons schools cease sports competitions

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Bishop England High School and Philip Simmons High School will no longer be a matchup on athletic calendars throughout the Lowcountry.

In a statement, Bishop England confirmed Friday that it would no longer play Philip Simmons in football and basketball, citing the crumbling climate between the fan bases of the two schools. It is a decision that extends from the football field to the hardwood and further. Philip Simmons elected to cease all competition in each sport between the two schools.

“Over the past several years, we have enjoyed a healthy rivalry when competing against Philip Simmons High School. Recently, however, the climate between our fan bases has declined,” an email sent to Bishop England parents obtained by News 4 reads.

“Due to the large number of spectators that attend both football and basketball games, we have decided that we will not play Philip Simmons in those sports, only. We want to allow time for this climate to improve. Bishop England would like to continue to compete in all other sports. However, the administration at Philip Simmons has decided that all competitive sports between our schools will cease. This is not the outcome we were seeking, especially with our sincere desire to create a respectful culture between our school communities.”

The email continued: “Bishop England is committed to pursuing a healthy spirit of competition in our athletic programs. We hope and pray that our relationship with Philip Simmons improves so that we can continue to serve our communities and especially our children who collectively benefit from using their God-given talents to build character and work ethic.”

READ MORE | “Parents express frustration as rivalry game goes fan-less after social media threats.”

When contacted, Berkeley County School District officials said the announcement came from Bishop England and not Philip Simmons. Berkeley County School District officials, however, were made aware of Bishop England’s decision.

“District leadership is aware of Bishop England’s decision to suspend certain athletic competitions with Philip Simmons High and the subsequent denial of Philip Simmons High’s request for reconsideration,” the statement from Berkeley County reads. “Due to the inability of the leadership teams to reach a consensus, we learned from public sources that all competitions between the two schools are currently on hold.

“Schools throughout the district, including Philip Simmons High, have enjoyed healthy competitive relationships with both local and county rivals without incident. There is no indication that the situation between Philip Simmons High and Bishop England has been any different. Historically, these schools have enjoyed a positive competitive rivalry, and we remain hopeful that the two leadership teams can work together to reinstate athletic competitions in the near future.”

This marks the latest turn in the Bishop England and Philip Simmons rivalry. On Sept. 13, fans were barred from attending the Bishop England-Philip Simmons football game after a racist photo circulated on social media.

The photo depicts a white male, in a football jersey that has “Battling Bishops” across the front, holding a piece of watermelon in a plastic bag. A caption contains derogatory language directed at “the Horses.” Philip Simmons is known as the Iron Horse.

What followed were multiple threats made on social media. Bishop England cited those threats as its main concern when limiting fans.

“Safety is always our top priority and is the driving force in this decision,”Bishop England’s Principal Mary Anne Tucker said on Thursday, Sept. 12. “As a Catholic school, we strive to provide an environment that is not only safe for our community but is also steeped in the Gospel values of faith, hope, and charity. While we are disappointed that these changes are necessary, we hope to move forward by modeling the example of Jesus, the Master Teacher.”

READ MORE | “No spectators allowed at Friday’s Bishop England-Philip Simmons football game amid threats.”

Philip Simmons immediately disagreed with the decision to disallow fans but viewed it as a teachable moment.

“The impact of negative content on social media has real consequences,” a Philip Simmons statement from Thursday, Sept. 12, read. “In this situation, the young men on both sub-varsity teams, who have worked tirelessly to prepare for this rivalry game will lose an opportunity due to the inappropriate behavior of others on social media.”

It is not immediately clear whether the hiatus between these two schools competing will extend into future school years.