Due to Hurricane Matthew, South Carolina and Georgia will kick off on Sunday
The Georgia at South Carolina football game scheduled for Saturday night in Columbia has been moved to Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET due to Hurricane Matthew, it was announced Thursday. The game will air on the SEC Network.
“Due to the potential impact of the hurricane on Columbia and the surrounding area, it is in the best interest of safety to play the game on Sunday rather than Saturday night,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. “I appreciate the cooperation of the schools who worked closely to make the appropriate operational adjustments in order to accommodate this change in the schedule.”
The matchup will still be played at Williams-Brice Stadium.
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According to South Carolina, the university has been and will continue to be in communication with the Governor’s Office and state officials, state and local law enforcement agencies including the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the National Weather Service, other local authorities and the SEC regarding potential weather issues. Based on the current forecast and expected weather conditions as well as information from local law enforcement agencies, at this time, the university is confident in its ability to host the game on Sunday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The university will be able to staff traffic, security and other game day operations. The safety of everyone affected by the storm and the minimization of the impact on emergency personnel were the most important factors considered in making the decision.
The university encourages Gamecock fans that do not need their previously reserved hotel rooms to contact your hotel and release your reservations. It also encourages hoteliers to be flexible with their standard two-night minimum in order to help accommodate both hurricane evacuees and fans.
Bus service for students and other patrons to the game from Carolina Coliseum will experience some delays due to buses supporting the evacuation effort. The university remains ready to provide additional assistance related to Hurricane Matthew if necessary.
University officials are continuing to monitor the movements of Hurricane Matthew. Should weather conditions or other factors that impact game day operations change, the university will make adjustments accordingly.
