Tuesday 6 p.m. update
FSU just put out another statement from AD Michael Alford ahead of its scheduled home game vs. Wake Forest Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
“Following our most recent briefing today with authorities, University administration, transportation
officials, security, law enforcement and emergency responders, we remain confident that we will be
able to safely host Saturday’s football game against Wake Forest at its scheduled kickoff time. We will
continue to monitor the hurricane and all weather advisories and take action if needed to ensure the
safety of all involved. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the forecasted impact area in
South Florida and others affected by the storm.”
Tuesday 8:25 a.m. update
Hurricane Ian continues to move further south in its projection. It’s now projected to hit just south of Tampa, with emergency management advising landfall would be in about 36 hours at Venice, Fla. Effects will be felt starting on Wednesday or Thursday, per Tuesday morning’s update. While we'll keep you informed on the status of the game, we extend our best wishes to readers in the path of the storm.
At this rate, the effects of the storm on Tallahassee shouldn’t be severe. The status of the game could hinge on 1) the speed of the storm as it moves across Florida and if that could affect travel plans and 2) the status of the state and if any emergency/game day personnel are required elsewhere to aid in the aftermath of the affected area.
The FSU football team is holding its first practice of the week this morning at 9:30 am. As Mike Norvell said on Monday, they’ll be preparing as if there’s a game Saturday until they hear otherwise.
Monday 2:15 p.m. update
FSU just announced that it has canceled classes from Tuesday through Friday and campus will be closed Thursday and Friday. Homecoming Weekend activities postponed until April, but the game remains scheduled for Saturday at this time.
Monday 1 p.m. update
FSU AD Michael Alford just shared an update on the Wake Forest game from FSU football's Twitter account. Per Alford: "Nothing has changed right now in terms of the 3:30 p.m. kickoff for our football game with Wake Forest on Saturday. We are closely monitoring the projections regarding the hurricane and will be in constant contact with both local and state officials as well as the administration at Wake Forest and the Atlantic Coast Conference. As always, the safety of the student-athletes, game staff and fans will be our top priority."
FSU head coach Mike Norvell was also asked about Hurricane Ian and how the team is preparing for that possibility.
"Michael Alford and the administration and the university have been in conversations, even with the ACC last night, of having alternate plans ready. It's something we talked to the team about last night, that we were going to make sure that nobody knows exactly what is going to occur as the week goes on, but our plan, we're prepping for this game. We will have plans in place if anything does occur that needs to alter that, but right now, that's all of our focus, making sure that the guys understand that we will always have a plan in place for them. Thoughts with everyone in the state of the potential of what's coming. Thoughts and prayers that all it's coming to towards the end of the week."
Asked a follow-up question about when a decision would have to be made, Norvell said, "Administration and the conference, they're controlling that. I don't have any control with it. I'm going to focus on making sure our guys are prepared for tomorrow. I trust our administration, all of the planning and everybody that is tracking that situation."
Original story
Football week is here. No. 23 FSU is set to host No. 22 Wake Forest Saturday at 3:30. Obviously, however, there's a major non-football storyline entering the week as Hurricane Ian is bearing down on Florida, with little certainty about where it could hit due to a wide range of projected models.
Here's what we know about the status of the game at the start of the week,
FSU just put out another statement from AD Michael Alford ahead of its scheduled home game vs. Wake Forest Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
“Following our most recent briefing today with authorities, University administration, transportation
officials, security, law enforcement and emergency responders, we remain confident that we will be
able to safely host Saturday’s football game against Wake Forest at its scheduled kickoff time. We will
continue to monitor the hurricane and all weather advisories and take action if needed to ensure the
safety of all involved. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the forecasted impact area in
South Florida and others affected by the storm.”
Tuesday 8:25 a.m. update
Hurricane Ian continues to move further south in its projection. It’s now projected to hit just south of Tampa, with emergency management advising landfall would be in about 36 hours at Venice, Fla. Effects will be felt starting on Wednesday or Thursday, per Tuesday morning’s update. While we'll keep you informed on the status of the game, we extend our best wishes to readers in the path of the storm.
At this rate, the effects of the storm on Tallahassee shouldn’t be severe. The status of the game could hinge on 1) the speed of the storm as it moves across Florida and if that could affect travel plans and 2) the status of the state and if any emergency/game day personnel are required elsewhere to aid in the aftermath of the affected area.
The FSU football team is holding its first practice of the week this morning at 9:30 am. As Mike Norvell said on Monday, they’ll be preparing as if there’s a game Saturday until they hear otherwise.
Monday 2:15 p.m. update
FSU just announced that it has canceled classes from Tuesday through Friday and campus will be closed Thursday and Friday. Homecoming Weekend activities postponed until April, but the game remains scheduled for Saturday at this time.
Monday 1 p.m. update
FSU AD Michael Alford just shared an update on the Wake Forest game from FSU football's Twitter account. Per Alford: "Nothing has changed right now in terms of the 3:30 p.m. kickoff for our football game with Wake Forest on Saturday. We are closely monitoring the projections regarding the hurricane and will be in constant contact with both local and state officials as well as the administration at Wake Forest and the Atlantic Coast Conference. As always, the safety of the student-athletes, game staff and fans will be our top priority."
FSU head coach Mike Norvell was also asked about Hurricane Ian and how the team is preparing for that possibility.
"Michael Alford and the administration and the university have been in conversations, even with the ACC last night, of having alternate plans ready. It's something we talked to the team about last night, that we were going to make sure that nobody knows exactly what is going to occur as the week goes on, but our plan, we're prepping for this game. We will have plans in place if anything does occur that needs to alter that, but right now, that's all of our focus, making sure that the guys understand that we will always have a plan in place for them. Thoughts with everyone in the state of the potential of what's coming. Thoughts and prayers that all it's coming to towards the end of the week."
Asked a follow-up question about when a decision would have to be made, Norvell said, "Administration and the conference, they're controlling that. I don't have any control with it. I'm going to focus on making sure our guys are prepared for tomorrow. I trust our administration, all of the planning and everybody that is tracking that situation."
Original story
Football week is here. No. 23 FSU is set to host No. 22 Wake Forest Saturday at 3:30. Obviously, however, there's a major non-football storyline entering the week as Hurricane Ian is bearing down on Florida, with little certainty about where it could hit due to a wide range of projected models.
Here's what we know about the status of the game at the start of the week,
- The storm took a turn east towards Tampa over the last 24 hours with an expected landfall Thursday evening. While this may lessen the chances of a direct hit, there would likely still be effects in Tallahassee given the size of the storm. It also bears mentioning that there's still plenty of time for the storm's projected path to shift once again.
- ACC officials met with FSU and Wake on Sunday and are expected to do so again Monday. Wide variety of options being discussed (moving the game to a neutral site, canceling the game, bringing Wake Forest team down earlier in the week before the worst of the storm hits). The priority from the ACC, though, is keeping games at the designated home site if at all possible.
- We're told a very unlikely option is moving the game to Winston-Salem and turning a home game for FSU into a road game. Another not-so-likely option, from what we have heard, is reshuffling the schedule. Wake Forest is scheduled to face Boston College on Oct. 22, FSU's second and final bye week. BC and Wake both have a bye week Oct. 15 so in theory, that game could be moved up a week and this week's game rescheduled for Oct. 22. However, it's not one of the priority options from what we're hearing.
- I'd imagine we'll get a bit more clarity from today's meeting. That being said, the last time we dealt with this in 2019, the decision to move the FSU-Boise State game from Jacksonville to Tallahassee wasn't made until Thursday about 48 hours out from kickoff. So this could go a bit deeper in the week before a resolution is reached.
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