Florida cancels game vs. Northern Colorado due to Hurricane Irma

Saturday’s game between Florida and Northern Colorado has been canceled due to Hurricane Irma.

The Florida Gators have canceled their home opener that was scheduled to take place on Saturday against Northern Colorado due to Hurricane Irma. The storm is causing damage across the southeast and this is was the smart and safe decision by Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin.

“We have been in constant communication this week with University and government officials,” athletics director Scott Stricklin said in a press release. “As the Hurricane’s track has approached the state of Florida, it’s become obvious that playing a football game is not the right thing to do. The focus of our state and region needs to be on evacuations and relief efforts. There is a tremendous amount of stress currently on the roads of this state, and the availability of gas, water and other supplies are at critical levels. Playing a college football game Saturday would only add to that stress.

“Gainesville is also close to some of Florida’s heaviest traffic points this week, specifically Interstate 75, which is a key statewide evacuation route.”

Prior to the game being canceled, Florida worked with Northern Colorado to find transportation to get them to Gainesville for the game that was to take place on Saturday. They were going to travel on a chartered flight instead of traveling commercially, but alas, those efforts are no longer necessary.

Efforts to reschedule the game later in the year was unsuccessful too when the two teams didn’t share an open week that would have made for an easy substitute date.

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For those who purchased tickets to the game, the press release said Florida will be in communication with them, so you can expect a refund or some sort of restitution. Of course, there are bigger and more important things than college football and the safety and well-being of everyone in the area is the priority. Taking emergency personnel away from the devastation that Hurricane Irma has caused and putting them to use directing traffic out of the stadium parking lot or security in and around the stadium is just not the best use of that personnel.

Florida made the wise decision canceling the game.