Saturday at least 3 NCAA football games were affected by lighting: Iowa, Notre Dame and Michigan. As I type today's West Virginia/Marshall game is in it's second delay.
Last night's Michigan game was called before the end of the third quarter and Michigan was awarded a victory.
I do not recall this happening in the past but a State game in a continous downpour. The start of the game was delayed 45 minutes because the players were not allowed on the field due to lightning. Yet a capacity crowd was sitting in the stands and my nephew and I were sitting in the South end zone aluminum seating, duh?
Paul in PA
A good read
Some brains from CU Boulder put together a brief study on the subject in 2004.
Lightning Safety and Outdoor Stadiums
It's really an interesting read.
There was a picture taken during the USF - ND game where it looked like lightning hit the top of the stadium during half time. Thankfully, the stadium was already nearly empty at the time since they apparently gave an evacuation order earlier. My wife is a USF Bull, so were watching a bit of that. They game resumed the USF went on to win. My Gators looked much improved in their night game. We seem to have a much more cohesive coaching staff this year.
[flash width=560 height=345] http://www.youtube.com/v/JomQvrULntg?version=3&hl=en_US [/flash]
What a bunch of sissies! Let the games continue. Should those who paid for a seat want to leave, so be it. Meanwhile, play on through the mud and the muck.
The West Virginia Marshall Game Was Called Over After 3/4s.
WV 34, Marshall 13 final with 14:36 of the fourth quarter still on the clock. There were more than 4 hours of delay before they called an end to it.
When the games go into a delay it really messes up the gametrax data. Gametrax reports a quarter over when it is not. With more delays to be expected in the future, the computer scroreboards have to have a new item or two added.
As we get into the season more and more games will mean something and have to go to completion, so games could easily exceed 8 hours start to finish.
Paul in PA
Rain, snow, mud and ice are all part of football. Severe storms with lightning are not and they took the proper precautions at yesterdays games for both the players and the fans.
Can you imagine the headlines if they hadn't and people had be struck?
Statistics should bear out this foolishness. Football games have gone on for over 100 years in this country. How many players have been injured or killed by lightning during a game compared to the total opportunity for that to happen?
The Fans Are More Vulnerable To Lightning?
A lightning strike that hits fans in a wet crowded stadium could lead to major casualties.
I will also add Tennessee to the list of games delayed by lightning this weekend.
Paul in PA
The Fans Are More Vulnerable To Lightning?
remember TV controls sports, IMO. You make think that game officials may be making the call to suspend but I do believe that it is the TV producers.
One of those camera operators on steel platforms or roaming around with all the electronic equipment must be a possible perilous situationl. Nevermind the fact that a electrical storm will play havoc in braodcasting.
I think the players and fans safety area secondary consideration.
I used camera operator instead of camera man to be PC. 😉
