The decision needed to be made based on info as of a certain time yesterday due to logistics of moving 100+ people plus equipment for the game from Tampa to East Hartford. At that time, Tampa was closer to middle of the cone and forecast wind arrival was 9 a.m. Sunday.
USF wanted a "safe" window to get back home or would cancel the game. That safe window appears to have been 12 hours before arrival of any potential effects from the storm. As of yesterday morning that meant arriving back at TPA before 9 p.m.
That USF wants its student athletes back in a controlled environment that has a hurricane plan in place is their choice. They are not flying into storm. They are getting back ahead of it. They are putting their kids first in terms of a plan which is what they should do.If you have been to USF, you know it is away from the coast, has few high rise buildings and probably serves as an evacuation center ion major storms. The kids from USF will be safe there.
Options considered were moving the game to Friday PM, start earlier or cancel. The worst option for both teams and the conference was cancelling the game. There probably was consideration about getting officials to the game which probably complicated the Friday option in addition to USF logistic complications. I think they truck all their equipment; can you play a game without your own equipment? So kickoff in the morning on Saturday. A win/win for everyone.
Enjoy a bloody Mary or 4 early Saturday. Plan on watching all of the 3:30-4 o'clock games. Enjoy dinner out after a win. Lots of benefits to this solution if you choose to view it that way.
