UConn-USF Game Cancelled

By Bob Phillips

The game between UConn and USF, scheduled for Saturday at Pratt &
Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, has been cancelled to allow the USF
players and coaches to cope with the impending havoc to be wreaked in
Florida by Hurricane Irma. The game will not be made up.

EAST HARTFORD–For anyone living under a rock, the UConn-South Florida football game scheduled for Saturday at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field has been cancelled due to the pending havoc about to be wreaked on the Sunshine State by Hurricane Irma—the most powerful Atlantic storm in history.

That’s cancelled. Not postponed.

Kaput.

Bye, bye, bye.

Hasta la vista, baby.

In other words, it will not be played at a later date.

“The safety and well-being of our students, staff and coaches is our paramount concern,” USF director of athletics Mark Harlan said in a statement. “Several large areas of the state are under evacuation orders, including portions of the Tampa Bay area. [USF is located in Tampa.] After consultation with university leadership and outside agencies, I believe it is not appropriate for our team to travel at this time." As disappointing as it may be for UConn fans, it could ultimately put a series dent into No. 21/20 USF’s postseason plans.

Since the two teams do not share the same bye week (UConn is off the weekend of Sept. 23, USF’s bye is on the weekend of Oct. 14 , any reschedule would require pushing back the Conference Championship Game by a week—a logistical nightmare for whichever schools would be ultimately involved as well as the conference’s media partner, ESPN/ABC.

It could also have a profound impact on both schools. For instance, if either USF or UConn finish 6-1 in conference play at the end of regular season play, and another team is 7-1, the 7-1 team will earn the championship game bid because, according to an American spokesperson, division champions are determined by winning percentage.

Kickoff had already been changed from the original 12 noon to the ungodly hour of 10:30 a.m. in order to give the USF team enough time to get home after the game on Saturday before all hell breaks loose—literally. The Bulls had been scheduled to fly out of Tampa at 2 p.m. on Friday, but ultimately, it was decided that it was best to call off the contest. Indeed, of the 108 players on the South Florida roster, 99 are Floridians. One must be excused if the safety of friends and family placed higher on list than playing a football game.

“Obviously we are disappointed for our team and our fans at the cancellation of a home game,” UConn athletic director David Benedict said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with USF and all of the areas in the path of this storm. We wish them all the best as they deal with this terrible storm and are here ready to assist in any way that we can.”

“I know both our team and USF were excited about a chance to play this weekend,” UConn coach Randy Edsall said. “We certainly are disappointed, but clearly understand that this is something totally out of everyone’s control. I hope that coach [Charlie] Strong, his team and the entire community impacted by this storm remain safe and know that we are thinking about them as they deal with this.”

Next up for the Huskies will be a trip to Charlottesville, Va. (believe it) next Saturday where the Huskies will challenge ACC rival Virginia. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. noon, and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

—with staff reports