Wilma threatens games scheduled for S. Florida
The date for Georgia Tech’s game at No. 6 Miami might be switched because of the threat posed to South Florida by Hurricane Wilma.
Officials from both schools, the Atlantic Coast Conference, ABC and ESPN are scheduled to have a conference call today. Miami athletic director Paul Dee said Tuesday that a decision on Saturday’s game will be made this afternoon, but not necessarily stemming from the call.
“We’re going to base it on the best information the National Hurricane Center and others have for us at that time,” Dee said. “Our first priority is the safety of the players and of the fans. And we’re pretty experienced at this.”
Tech coach Chan Gailey said options include moving the game up one day to Friday or pushing the game back one month to the Yellow Jackets’ open week on Nov. 19.
Gailey said one concern he would have if the game is switched to Friday would be that the area may already be soaked with rain.
The game is scheduled for a noon kickoff Saturday at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
Officials from West Virginia and South Florida are communicating twice daily about the possible impact of the hurricane on Saturday’s game in Tampa, Fla.
Big East cites inaccurate call
The Big East Conference said game officials were wrong in failing to call a penalty on an onside kick by West Virginia in its victory over Louisville.
“We’re acknowledging that a mistake was made on the play,” associate commissioner John Paquette said. “We don’t have a formal statement on it.”
With the Cardinals leading 24-14 in the fourth quarter Saturday, the Mountaineers attempted an onside kick, sending a high looping ball in the air. Louisville receiver Jimmy Riley tried to catch the ball but was hit by a West Virginia player and the Mountaineers recovered.
Unlike a kickoff that rolls on the ground, which is fair game for any player after it goes 10 yards, the receiving team must be allowed to field a ball in the air. A penalty flag was thrown but was waved off after an officials’ conference on the field. The Mountaineers kept the ball at their 48, drove for a field goal and scored another touchdown to tie the game and force overtime. The Mountaineers won 46-44 in triple overtime.