Menu
Colleges

South Carolina Decides To Move Game Against LSU To Baton Rouge In Wake Of Deadly Floods

This weekend's LSU-South Carolina football game, originally scheduled to be played in Columbia, S.C., will instead be played in Baton Rouge, La., "in the wake of deadly flooding" in Columbia, according to a front-page piece by Scott Rabalais of the Baton Rouge ADVOCATE. TV plans have yet to be determined, but the game "will be on an ESPN or SEC Network channel." Fans who purchased tickets to the game in South Carolina will be "reimbursed by that school or LSU." South Carolina will "keep the ticket revenue and reimburse LSU for its expenses to conduct the game." LSU AD Joe Alleva yesterday said that LSU "plans to make a donation to South Carolina flood relief" and his goal is for the school to "break even financially from hosting the game." Alleva said that LSU "will not paint the field [with] South Carolina colors but will play the school’s fight song and its alma mater." Alleva: "We want them to feel at home." Rabalais notes Saturday's game marks the "first time a game involving an SEC team has been moved because of weather since LSU played its 2005 season opener at Arizona State after Hurricane Katrina." Though South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium "was not damaged by the flooding that has plagued the state since the weekend, school officials couldn’t guarantee that police and medical staffing, or drinkable water supplies, would be adequate to support" the game (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 10/8).

LIMITED OPTIONS: In Columbia, Josh Kendall reports South Carolina is "going to take a financial hit." School AD Ray Tanner already has "taken some flak", but school officials "feel confident in their decision" to move the game to LSU. The time of the game "was changed" from noon to 3:30pm ET. Tanner and his staff "considered the possibility of postponing the game and playing later in the season." He said his staff "got close," but that option proved unworkable. Tanner also noted that his staff "had discussions with officials at several neutral site stadiums," including Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and EverBank Field in Jacksonville. He added there were "a couple other phone calls," as well. But he said that the logistics of those moves "were too difficult to overcome in a week" (Columbia STATE, 10/8). South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said, "We want to do what's the right thing for our community, for our state and especially all the victims of the devastating flood." He added, "Our governor, law enforcement, our president, all those way above our football team, me and the coach, they made this decision and I believe it's the right one" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/7).

PREP RALLY: In New Orleans, Randy Rosetta reported the upper east and upper south sections at Tiger Stadium will "remain closed" unless ticket sales "surpass demand." Senior Associate AD/Internal Affairs & Development Eddie Nunez said that LSU will be able to put "close to the normal amount of security personnel in place for a home game, the rest of the management personnel will be at around 75%" (NOLA.com, 10/7). The ADVOCATE notes LSU will "allow fans to bring one bottle of water per person into the game because of concerns about adequate staffing of concession stands" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 10/8). In New Orleans, Jim Kleinpeter noted the American Red Cross will be "collecting donations at the gates of Tiger Stadium on Saturday for those victims of the flooding in South Carolina" (NOLA.com, 10/7). Also in New Orleans, James Smith cited a source as saying that the SEC conference office notified LSU yesterday that the school would "not be permitted to host recruits" at Saturday's game (NOLA.com, 10/7).

GOOD CALL: In Columbia, David Cloninger wrote the decision to move the game "was a look-out" for South Carolina fans. There has been "too much pain already this week for somebody to be coming to Columbia trying to enjoy a game, and having another road blocked off or washed away." In addition, emergency personnel who have "been working overtime and some in 24/7 shifts don’t need to be pulled off what they’re doing to work a football game" (THESTATE.com, 10/7). A Columbia STATE editorial states South Carolina "was right to move Saturday's scheduled home game" and the school "really had no choice." While fans "looking for a little escape from reality will be disappointed," playing the game in Columbia "would have been irresponsible." Good for school President Harris Pastides for "making the call," and good for Tanner and Spurrier "for supporting the decision" (Columbia STATE, 10/8).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2015/10/08/Colleges/LSU-SC.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2015/10/08/Colleges/LSU-SC.aspx

CLOSE