St. Vincent-St. Mary president Leo Hyland cited "unsportsmanlike behavior" as a reason for choosing to not play rival Archbishop Hoban during the 2023 high school football regular season.

Hyland gave the reasoning in an emailed letter sent to STVM alumni early Sunday afternoon. The Beacon Journal obtained a copy of the letter.

After STVM athletic director Kyle Sasala informed the Beacon Journal of the decision Saturday morning in a text message, attempts to discuss the situation by phone with Hyland, Sasala and Irish football coach Terry Cistone were unsuccessful.

Hoban vs. STVM'Holy War' football series has been shut down

In an email exchange with the Beacon Journal Saturday, Hyland wrote Hoban coach Tim Tyrrell "knows exactly why this is happening." But Hyland did not respond to a request to be interviewed by phone and did not comment further.

Reached by phone on Sunday, Tyrrell said Hoban's administration will have a response Monday.

The following is the text of the letter school president Leo Hyland sent to STVM alumni:

Dear STVM Alumni,

On Friday, February 24, St. Vincent-St. Mary (STVM) filled out its 2023 football schedule with a game to be played at Huber Heights Wayne, near Dayton. On Saturday, the Akron Beacon Journal published a story online about this development. It’s point, it seems, was to declare that STVM had “shut down” the school’s football rivalry with Archbishop Hoban. This is a bit misleading.

It is true that STVM is non-renewing an expired contract (for 2023 only). STVM values competitive athletics, and we hope to see Hoban again in the 2023 playoffs. However, due to our disappointment in resolving serious concerns raised with their administration in our conversations over the past 14 months, the Hoban football program has lost its privilege to play STVM in the 2023 regular season.

STVM is willing to play Archbishop Hoban in football, and we hope to return to our annual rivalry game as soon as possible. However, as a Catholic school in the Marianist tradition, we find this situation to be unacceptable and will not subject our students and coaches to any unsportsmanlike behavior. We will continue to dialogue with our partners at Archbishop Hoban. Thank you for your understanding of this challenging situation.

GO IRISH!

Leo P. Hyland

President

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: STVM president blames Hoban for halting 'Akron's Holy War'