CCU also lost revenue after moving its Sept. 12 home game against Campbell to Buies Creek, N.C.GETTY IMAGES
Coastal Carolina's displaced athletic teams have been "traversing the country on extended road trips" since Hurricane Florence's arrival two weeks ago, and AD Matt Hogue estimates the travel expenses "will be several hundred thousand dollars," according to Alan Blondin of the Myrtle Beach SUN NEWS. With the campus being "largely shut down, the school hasn’t yet audited the athletic teams’ travels, which also aren’t fully completed, so there isn’t a final number on the total cost." Beginning with the mandated shutdown of government offices on Sept. 11 prior to Florence making landfall, student-athletes "haven’t been allowed to stay on campus and teams haven’t been able to organize activities on campus, including practices and games." Hogue said that the football program was "on the road for 12 days and required approximately 100 rooms per night," and the "initial purchase order for the Renaissance Hotel at the World Golf Village in Jacksonville, Fla., was $150,000." Classes will resume Monday and residence halls will "reopen at noon Friday, so Coastal’s athletic teams can resume normal activities on campus next week." Hogue said that there are "at least three possible sources of funding to help pay for the travel expenses" that are under consideration. There is an NCAA Special Assistance Fund for student-athletes in need, and Hogue said that CCU "has to go through the Sun Belt Conference to receive approval for its use." Hogue said that there are also "university contingency dollars available for unforeseen circumstances," or a potential insurance claim to recoup funds. In addition to the travel, CCU "lost revenue because it had to move its home football game against Campbell to Buies Creek, N.C., and there were no ticket sales" (Myrtle Beach SUN NEWS, 9/27).
