Late Thursday night Provo School District Superintendent Wendy Dau sent out an e-mail indicating that the game on Friday between the T-Birds and the Bulldogs has been canceled due to threats made by the Timpview community against Provo high coaches, players and their families.

“By now, you have likely received communication from Principal Momi Tu’ua of Timpview High School regarding social media posts from the Timpview community that threatened Provo High coaches, players and their families,” the e-mail reads. “Principal Tu’ua has been working closely with Principal Alvarez of Provo High School and Assistant Superintendent Darrell Jensen to investigate and respond appropriately to the situation.

“I am disappointed and disheartened to see a high school rivalry devolve into this type of vitriol and hatred. Social media has emboldened us, as we believe we can hide behind anonymity or a digital face. We believe that it allows us to treat others with disdain because we do not have to see the consequences of our actions. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our actions impact others, and we must be responsible for the impact they have on our entire community.

“I am saddened that we cannot move forward with this traditional rivalry game. We need to step back and re-evaluate our priorities as a community. My hope is that this incident will encourage our students and our community to correct our actions and our thoughts and cultivate a rivalry that brings out a competitive spirit that respects the dignity of others and once again unites us.

“My heart goes out to the families and individuals who were named in the posts. No one should ever have their safety threatened, particularly within the confines of our school community. While we cannot comment on an ongoing investigation, I want to assure you that we are working closely with Provo City Police Department and with our District Leadership team to ensure that appropriate consequences are carried out for those involved. I hope the cancelation of this game will be a reminder to all that above everything else, what matters most is how we treat each other and that we take care of one another and keep each other safe.

“I want to thank the many individuals who responded so quickly and who continue to help us with this investigation. We are committed to making Provo a better place for all students and all families. I hope we can come together and make this right with each other.

“Regretfully, Wendy Dau, Superintendent.”

Timpview, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A and the defending state champions, opened the season 1-1 with a victory against 6A Skyridge and a loss to 6A Lone Peak. Provo, which now competes in 4A, is 0-2 with losses to 5A Brighton and 5A Olympus.

Timpview opened its doors in 1977 and owns a 36-10 advantage in the rivalry. The T-Birds have won 32 games in a row in the series, with the last Provo victory coming in 1989. The two teams played twice in 1986 and didn’t play in 2021 or 2022.

Next week, Provo is scheduled to play Salem Hills and Timpview is slated to take on Corona Centennial (Calif.).