SEC commissioner: Florida-LSU game needs to be played
UPDATE (4 P.M. SATURDAY): Appearing via phone during the Tennessee-Texas A&M game broadcast on CBS, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said that the Florida-LSU game, which was postponed earlier this week, needs to be played.
Listen to the full interview below.
UPDATE (4 P.M. THURSDAY): According to a statement by the SEC Office on Thursday, Florida's matchup with LSU, set for Saturday at noon ET in The Swamp, has been postponed because of Hurricane Matthew. Both universities and the SEC Office will work to reschedule the game later in the 2016 season, if possible.
Both schools do not have a common open date in place to reschedule the game for, at this time. According to the SEC's press release, "the schools and SEC Office will make every effort to find a scheduling solution with the possible movement of other games on the schools’ schedules."
“We had a very productive phone call today with a great spirit of cooperation between the universities’ presidents and athletics directors and it became clear that the University of Florida could neither host nor travel to a game this weekend considering the circumstances,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey in the release. “The developments of the hurricane in the last 24 hours, the projected magnitude of its impact and the unknown aftermath of this storm have resulted in this decision to seek another date to play the LSU-Florida game. We have to be sensitive to the possible imminent disruption to the state of Florida and in particular the Gainesville and surrounding area.”
“The timing of this storm on a Friday and the uncertainly of its aftermath in the ensuing days make it particularly difficult to project the conditions for the remainder of the weekend as well as the opportunity for travel of teams and fans to or from Gainesville and other cities in Florida,” Sankey added. “I am appreciative of the cooperation of our universities on this matter.”
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UPDATE (5 P.M. WEDNESDAY): UF made an announcement Wednesday afternoon regarding the current status of the Florida-LSU matchup.
"We are working closely with local, state and University officials as well as the Southeastern Conference office to monitor the progress of Hurricane Matthew and its potential impact on campus and the safety of the fans," UF said in a press release. "As of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the game is still scheduled to be played on Saturday at noon at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. A final decision on the start time of the game will be made by 1 p.m. on Thursday as we continue to monitor the storm.
"The game will not be moved out of Gainesville. There will be no overnight parking lots for this weekend's game. All lots will open on Saturday at 8 a.m."
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As Hurricane Matthew is expected to come through Gainesville this weekend, the big question on many fans’ minds is whether Florida’s matchup with LSU will be played at the originally announced date and time of Saturday at noon ET in The Swamp.
Currently, the hurricane is tracking just off the east coast in forecasts, with the outskirts of Matthew expected to hit Gainesville on Friday and the hurricane approaching Georgia and the Carolinas by Saturday. However, the aftermath of the hurricane could still affect the logistics of game day for UF.
Florida announced Wednesday that an update on the status of the game would be announced today after 5 p.m. ET, as officials from both Florida and LSU have reportedly discussed the options on the table over the past couple days. Hurricane Matthew has forced the Florida soccer team to move its home matchup with Georgia to 4 p.m. ET Thursday. Meanwhile, Gator Golf Day at the Mark Bostick Golf Course, originally scheduled for Friday, will be cancelled.
However, even with the hurricane approaching later this week, Florida head coach Jim McElwain said his team’s preparation for LSU hasn’t changed.
“Well aware of what could happen in the preparation for that. It’s one of those deals that whatever happens, we’ll obviously do the best for the campus, the state of Florida, first responders, all of those types of things,” McElwain said Wednesday on the SEC teleconference. “Right now, we’re planning as to go ahead with whatever the plans were.”
When asked whether the option of moving the game to Baton Rouge has been discussed, McElwain went back to his previous talking point.
“We’ll do whatever’s best for the people and the campus and the first responders,” McElwain said. “No, it’s Wednesday, not ‘Wet Blanket Wednesday,’ but it’s third down and red area. We’ve got an indoor, I guess. We could go do it in there if we have to.”
If the time and/or date of the Florida-LSU contest were to change, it wouldn’t be the first time that weather has affected a game expected to be played in Gainesville. In 2014, Florida’s season-opener against Idaho was canceled due to weather. Ten years prior, Florida moved its matchup against Middle Tennessee State from the season-opener to a later date on its bye week in mid-October in the wake of Hurricane Frances.
Earlier this season, Florida’s game-week preparation for UMass saw tropical storm Hermine pass through Gainesville.
"One of my teammates told me about it [Tuesday], but it might pass through like last time,” redshirt junior safety Nick Washington said of Hurricane Matthew. “We're just going to practice like we're going to play the game anyway. Whatever happens, happens."
Added redshirt junior center Cameron Dillard: “Honestly I don’t pay much attention to that. Is it supposed to hit us or something?”
Inside the Gators will continue to update this developing story.