CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
Death Valley will host Georgia Southern at noon Saturday

Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out


by - Senior Writer -

As the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia prepare for this week’s arrival of Hurricane Florence, college football contests across the region have either been moved or canceled. That includes Clemson’s home game against Georgia Southern, which was scheduled for 3:30 pm Saturday but was pushed back to noon, and plans are still in place for the game to proceed.

The University of South Carolina canceled its home game against Marshall, and Furman canceled its home game against Colgate. Athletic Director Dan Radakovich said early Thursday that Clemson looked at all of the information available, including the timing of the storm’s arrival, before making the decision to play.

“First and foremost, we want to make sure that safety is at the top of the list for our fans, our student-athletes and all of the citizens of the state of South Carolina,” Radakovich told Mark Packer on Packer’s radio show on SiriusXM. “We certainly hope that this storm doesn't do the damage that maybe it's anticipating right now. Here in the Upstate of South Carolina, we've been monitoring what effects it may have here in Clemson. We moved the game time from 3:30 to noon to make sure that everybody would have ample time to get back to wherever their homestead is after the game prior to what we understand at this current time to be whatever effects we have late Saturday and early Sunday morning. That's the information we have received.

“As late as 10 minutes ago, we were on with the folks who run our emergency preparedness information here on campus, and we will continue to monitor this situation throughout the day today and tomorrow. It's been such an interesting week. I had to make sure today was Thursday because all of the days seem to run together. Our campus, our law enforcement in the local area, our emergency preparedness have been in constant communication over the last 72 hours. At this point and time, all signs point toward a noon kickoff on Saturday.”

Georgia Southern will bus in from Statesboro, Ga., a trip of fewer than 200 miles, and Radakovich said the close distance between the two schools allowed for the decision to be made later than other schools.

“Absolutely. That has been a real positive as it relates to getting the decision made as late as possible. If there was an airplane flight involved, that's a whole different ballgame,” Radakovich said. “We've been in contact with Georgia Southern, and I'm sure we'll continue to speak today as things continue to develop. Hopefully, the forecast will stay as it is right now and we'll continue to play the game. The fact that they aren't far away and they're using bus transportation to come up here and coming from the south up to our area north of their campus is also a positive. That has given us the gift of time.”

He was then asked if the game could still be called off.

“At this point, that has not come forward,” Radakovich said. “I can't say within the next 24 hours with things changing that we wouldn't go into that direction, but from where we are and all of the information we've been able to gather through the weather services and emergency preparedness, the effects of that storm won't really hit the Upstate and when it does it looks like it's going to be a significant rain event that won't happen until Sunday. That's all the information we've been able to get at this time, and that's been the basis of our decision making up to now.”

The noon start time allows fans to begin the trek home and cleaning crews to get inside the stadium before the worst of the storm hits.

“The three hours we thought was very important because there's a lot of stuff that happens after the game as well,” Radakovich said. “There is a large cleaning crew that comes in and cleans up afterward, so if you play the game at 3:30, you'll be moving closer to where we may see issues with the storm so by moving it up, our fans can come - I don't know that they'll linger as the sometimes do for an early game - but that will give us an opportunity to get the stadium and the campus clean before we get that rain event late Saturday night and Sunday morning.”

This is familiar territory for Radakovich and Clemson – the Tigers played Notre Dame in the rain in 2015 and dealt with storm issues against both Auburn and Georgia Tech last season.

“The Notre Dame game and then last year for Auburn. While our weather was great, there were some difficult things happening in other parts of the state,” he said. “As we look at our traffic flow, that was diminished from a resource perspective as well. We've had a number of time where we wouldn't have the full complement of folks out on the highways helping people get in, but our fanbase has been fantastic. When we tell them that patience is needed today because of these other issues that you know are going on around you, they heed that advice.

“We ask them to come early, and they heed that advice. We have the greatest fans in the country and I think that moving this game up, they all want to see the game, they all want to see us play, they all want to be here on campus, but they all understand that we have their safety in mind and that's why we've moved the game up. We want it to be a great environment, but we also want it to be a safe environment. What we learned at Notre Dame, Georgia Tech last year, Auburn last year, we continue to utilize those lessons as we move ahead.”

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Subject (Replies: 82) Author
spacer TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
TigerNet News®
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
deroberts
spacer Moving the gametime is a knee jerk***
CM Shack®
spacer I'm up in the air with this decision.
V_Bled22
spacer Re: I'm up in the air with this decision.
tigerrag86
spacer This will be no worse than ND game, if even that bad? Glad..
kbtiger®
spacer Re: I'm up in the air with this decision.
deroberts
spacer for most people, it's not a matter of being scared
Knuck®
spacer Clemson can't afford the lost revenue
Tygrr86
spacer That is not true at all.
Judge Keller®
spacer Re: I'm up in the air with this decision.
kerigantoo
spacer The only thing that should be up in the air
Baltimore Tiger®
spacer As per usual, people are overreacting to the weather news.
Completely Solid Orange
spacer Re: As per usual, people are overreacting to the weather news.
kerigantoo
spacer Re: As per usual, people are overreacting to the weather news.
deroberts
spacer Re: As per usual, people are overreacting to the weather news.
bleedsorange81®
spacer Cola will get tropical storm winds - many will lose power***
CTiger423®
spacer They were telling us 140 mph winds and 40 inches of rain
Neal in NC®
spacer Re: I'm up in the air with this decision.
lhaselden
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
I bleed orange
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
orbulus
spacer Makes perfect sense not to come...
ClemfanWV
spacer So where are the people on the coast evacuating to, and
tpaw79
spacer Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere else? You know there’s a
Noodle
spacer I'm still planning on going...
ClemsonPoker489®
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
Swamp81
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
Tiger Contractor
spacer YES! Play the game!!***
Clemson_Orange
spacer Money...It's pretty simple really, money is the reason, it's
CM Shack®
spacer Of course, it's about money. So what?
CootNDawgHater
spacer Link to where I mentioned which way the world turned Hero***
CM Shack®
spacer That was directed at the people who think the game
CootNDawgHater
spacer reply to those people then, leave me out of your
CM Shack®
spacer I WAS replying to you, bigshot. The last comment in the post
CootNDawgHater
spacer so it was a poor attempt to put words in my mouth Slick?***
CM Shack®
spacer Re: so it was a poor attempt to put words in my mouth Slick?******
7478tiger
spacer apparently the truth triggers some people***
CM Shack®
spacer At this point this is the only way to play it out. I think
CharlestonTom®
spacer If ifs and buts were fruits and nuts...
goclemsontigs
spacer Re:Clemson playing as hurricane approaches- spot the ball
74TIGER
spacer It's not even going to rain in Clemson until Sunday!!!!***
Tiger77
spacer Re: It's not even going to rain in Clemson until Sunday!!!!***
Lonnie Utah
spacer Re: It's not even going to rain in Clemson until Sunday!!!!***
smokepurpleliveorange69
spacer Re: It's not even going to rain in Clemson until Sunday!!!!***
clemsontiger2002
spacer Re: It's not even going to rain in Clemson until Sunday!!!!***
jbodycott
spacer SPOT THE BALL!***
tigeron®
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
cunms
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
Eagle03®
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
DMDRanch
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
usarmyshreve®
spacer The forecast only shows 15-25 mph winds***
camcgee®
spacer Re: The forecast only shows 15-25 mph winds******
Lonnie Utah
spacer Re: The forecast only shows 15-25 mph winds***
Lonnie Utah
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
GSValleyBoy
spacer I have a feeling that it will be mostly full. Maybe 70k.***
Noodle
spacer A TS hitting another part of the state isn't a good reason..
camcgee®
spacer the optics of playing a ball game
tgrfan42069
spacer Let's stop playing sports.
ClemsonPoker489®
spacer Re: Let's stop playing sports.
Tigerluvr
spacer Re: Let's stop playing sports.
Rw43
spacer enjoy the foose ball game
tgrfan42069
spacer You are insane. Would there be no flooding if our game
Noodle
spacer Re: the optics of playing a ball game
bmoretiger
spacer Re: the optics of playing a ball game
Tigerluvr
spacer Re: the optics of playing a ball game
Tigerluvr
spacer The Weather Channel
Salty55®
spacer Re: The Weather Channel
Tigerluvr
spacer Re: The Weather Channel
Tigerluvr
spacer Re: the optics of protest
Rw43
spacer While we're at it, let's just shut down life as we know it.
Judge Keller®
spacer Re: the optics of playing a ball game
BethelBoy
spacer But CNN says we are all going to die.
Completely Solid Orange
spacer that guy is a nut***
CM Shack®
spacer It's hilarious watching him.***
Completely Solid Orange
spacer Florance is Angry and Agitated***
Neal in NC®
spacer Never seen so many debbie downers! Table tennis anyone?***
tigeron®
spacer Table tennis?!?
Salty55®
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
nocoothere
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
Orange Squirrel
spacer Re: TNET: Why is Clemson playing as hurricane approaches? Clemson AD speaks out
BethelBoy
spacer Unbelievable
86Orange®
spacer Clemson played two days after Hugo swept through
scooter
spacer Re: TNET: Wes Durham just called out David Hood
gocu509