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Sports in Society

Hurricane Harvey Could Force LSU-BYU Game Out Of Houston; Local Teams Feel Impact

LSU officials are "not expecting" Saturday's game against BYU to be played at Houston's NRG Stadium due to the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey, according to Andrew Lopez of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. LSU Senior Associate Communications Dir Bill Franques last night made an appearance on the LSU Sports Radio Network and referenced a "conversation he had" with LSU AD Joe Alleva. Franques: "He wants fans to know LSU is not in control of the game, this is not an LSU home game. This game is organized by NRG in Houston and by ESPN. Ultimately, it's up to NRG and ESPN ... to decide where the game will be played if it is in fact moved." Franques added despite no official word, it is "almost certain that it will be moved to another venue" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 8/28). SMG Exec VP/Stadiums & Arenas Doug Thornton said that Mercedes-Benz Superdome officials have "contacted NRG Stadium officials in Houston to let them know the Dome could host the game between LSU and BYU (NOLA.com, 8/27). In Baton Rouge, Ross Dellenger notes officials from LSU, BYU, AdvoCare Texas Kickoff and ESPN continue to "discuss several options," though playing Sunday is off the table due to BYU not playing any athletic contests on Sundays "under university policy." Officials said that they "would be surprised if the game is completely canceled." Thornton said that NRG Stadium "is not flooded and it did not sustain wind damage from the hurricane," but "surrounding streets are underwater." He added that the "main challenge to hosting a game amid such an event is staffing" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 8/28).

TEXANS BEING DISPLACED: In Ft. Worth, Clarence Hill Jr. noted the flooding from Hurricane Harvey forced the Texans to "divert their plane to Dallas rather than return home to Houston" following their game Saturday against the Saints. The question now is "how long will they stay in Dallas" and whether Thursday’s preseason finale set for NRG Stadium against Cowboys "will be moved to AT&T Stadium." Cowboys Exec VP, COO & Dir of Player Personnel Stephen Jones said that the Cowboys are willing to do "whatever they can to help the Texans and have already offered to host Thursday’s preseason finale if flooding persists and the game can’t be played in Houston" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/27). ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported Texans GM Rick Smith and coach Bill O'Brien have "made clear to the players it's family first, football second." Darlington: "Do whatever you need to do to make sure that everyone in your family is accounted for and safe ... The organization is monitoring this very closely from a personal standpoint, making sure the players' lives are the priority here" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/28).

IN NEED OF A BALLPARK
: YAHOO SPORTS' Tim Brown noted the Astros were scheduled to host a three-game series at home against the Rangers beginning tomorrow, and it would be tough "finding anyone -- player, team official, league official -- who’d believe that game, even that series, would be played at Minute Maid Park." The Mets are scheduled to arrive Friday, and that series also "could need a new home." The easy solution "appeared to have the Astros and Rangers swap home series" -- this week's games would move to Globe Life Park with a "late-September series moving from Globe Life Park to Minute Maid Park." That would not "solve the issue of where to play the interleague series against the Mets, for which, if it comes to that, they’d presumably require a neutral site" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/27). ESPN's Mike Greenberg said, "Nothing can be less significant in the big picture than the fact that the Astros may not be able to play a home game this week, or whenever it is. They have far greater concerns" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 8/28).

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