2015 maryland

Michigan-Maryland Kickoff Moved To Noon Comment Count

Ace

[via Seth]

Saturday's game at Maryland has officially been moved to a noon kickoff because of concerns over Hurricane Joaquin. U-M press release:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. –  The University of Michigan's football game at the University of Maryland on Saturday (Oct. 3) has been moved to a noon EDT kickoff from its previously scheduled 8 p.m. start, the Big Ten Conference announced.

The Big Ten has been in counsel with Maryland and Michigan throughout the week on the course of Hurricane Joaquin and its possible effects on Saturday's game. The three entities agreed that moving the game time was the appropriate decision.

"The weather experts are still dealing with uncertain probabilities for the course of Hurricane Joaquin," said Jim Hackett, interim Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. "Thus we remain vigilant on developments and will err on the side of safety for all participants and fans."

Michigan (3-1), ranked 22nd in the latest Associated Press top-25 poll, and Maryland (2-2) will open their Big Ten schedules at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium in College Park, Maryland. The game will be aired live on BTN and BTN2Go. Please check local listings for complete broadcast information.

Minnesota-Northwestern is also being broadcast at noon on BTN, so check out this page to see what channel the game will be on in your area. Locally, at least, Michigan-Maryland will be on the main BTN channel instead of the overflow.

Comments

gbdub

October 1st, 2015 at 3:41 PM ^

Even if this storm doesn't hit directly, it's almost certainly going to cause a lot of flooding. Emergency services need all the time they can get to prepare, and the team needs all the time they can to get out of dodge before weather delays at the airport stack up. "Possible major hurricane" seems like exactly the sort of thing to be safe rather than sorry about.



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Eberwhite82

October 1st, 2015 at 1:20 PM ^

I'm pretty sure the game time change isn't about the Hurricane hitting on Saturday (that hasn't really ever been on the table). It's about making sure everyone can get out Saturday or early Sunday, before the possibility of an absolute travel nightmare kicks in with cancellations.

The models look very good for this not to turn west and make landfall. But they need to play it safe on this front and just get everyone out ASAP. You don't want our boys stuck in College Park. Believe me.

Joined: 09/30/2009

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GoBlueNorthside

October 1st, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^

This is a good move - I'd rather deal with heavy rain during the day than heavy rain at night. I can't imagine the # of accidents that would be caused by Hurricane Weather + Out of Towners + Night

Joined: 04/07/2013

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mtzlblk

October 1st, 2015 at 1:38 PM ^

Here in CA that means another week of mimosas/bloody marys and waffles, pancakes or omelettes for game day party, all my new barbecue stuff will have to wait until we get at least a 3:30 EST kick-off.

Joined: 01/20/2009

MGoPoints: 5019

Moonlight Graham

October 1st, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^

Hope you all get there soon enough to get over to the game. 

The ONE redeeming factor for adding Maryland and Rutgers was that our large alumni bases in NY and DC could go see a game ... hope this doesn't screw it up for too many of you, and stay safe regardless. 

Go Blue!

Joined: 09/12/2011

MGoPoints: 7559

InterM

October 1st, 2015 at 1:58 PM ^

Somehow your post is timestamped a minute later than the guy who asked the question, and yet your post appeared first.  No need to be a show-off -- next time wait for us to ask our questions before you answer them . . . .

Joined: 01/16/2009

MGoPoints: 2257

bronxblue

October 1st, 2015 at 2:00 PM ^

This makes sense.  It's not a marquee matchup anyway, and as a UM fan I'd rather UM play a disenchanted, dispassionate Maryland team at noon than a hyped-up one at night.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171436

ST3

October 1st, 2015 at 2:08 PM ^

Why do I feel like it should be called, "Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium in College Park, Maryland, brought to you by Carl's Jr."

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52470

Blerg

October 1st, 2015 at 2:15 PM ^

In a wedding that starts at 7:30 Saturday followed by the reception.  Was told there would be no access to the game.  Now me, and the other 7 M grads, get to watch in The Peabody's master suite.

Joined: 07/28/2010

MGoPoints: 10658

Mr. Yost

October 1st, 2015 at 2:54 PM ^

Saturday, October 3
MATCHUP   TIME  (ET) NAT TV LOCATION
#23West Virginia
#15Oklahoma		 12:00 PM FOXS1 Memorial Stadium , Norman, OK
Texas
#4TCU		 12:00 PM ABC
WatchESPN		 Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
#22Michigan
Maryland		 12:00 PM BTN Byrd Stadium, College Park, MD
Minnesota
#16Northwestern		 12:00 PM BTN Ryan Field, Evanston, IL
Louisville
NC State		 12:30 PM ESPN3 Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
Texas Tech
#5Baylor		 3:30 PM ABC
ESPN2
WatchESPN		 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
North Carolina
Georgia Tech		 3:30 PM ESPNU
WatchESPN		 Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA
#13Alabama
#8Georgia		 3:30 PM CBS Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
#3Ole Miss
#25Florida		 7:00 PM ESPN
WatchESPN		 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL
Arkansas
Tennessee		 7:00 PM ESPN2
WatchESPN		 Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
#21Mississippi State
#14Texas A&M		 7:30 PM SECN
WatchESPN		 Kyle Field, College Station, TX
#6Notre Dame
#12Clemson		 8:00 PM ABC
WatchESPN		 Memorial Stadium , Clemson, SC
Arizona
#18Stanford		 10:30 PM PAC12 Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA

 

Joined: 07/25/2011

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StephenRKass

October 1st, 2015 at 3:07 PM ^

Just got off the phone with my daughter, in the Navy, and stationed in Norfolk. This is about 200 miles south of College Park. The rain in Norfolk has been falling the last 7 days, and the ground is saturated. Rain is heavy enough that there already is some flooding. They expect 4 - 7 inches more between now and Sat. In College Park, the ground is also saturated, and they expect 3 - 4 more inches of rain by Sat. night. There already has been some flooding. However, no one knows exactly how much, and how heavy, the rain will fall. But flooding is quite possible.

My point? You don't wait until there is flooding or a disaster to call something off or reschedule it. If the rain is heavy for 8 hours more on Sat. (between noon and 8pm), that is going to make travel that much more difficult, with that much more water on the ground. Currently, Joaquin is a Cat 4 hurricane. Who knows what it will end up being, and what weather impact it will have?

Water and flooding cause most of the fatalities in a hurricane, not the wind. What a nightmare it would be if people were actually hurt by flooding. It isn't worth the risk.

Joined: 07/15/2008

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atticusb

October 1st, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^

Ok, I'm not looking to get flamed for questioning the decision to move the game time, but seeing it is being extensively discussed in the comments, I will point out some information.  To see the latest predictions for the storm track, visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov.  The latest update (from 5pm today) has the storm remaining in the Bahamas through Friday.  The best fit track has the storm center's closest approach to College Park and the DC area at 300 miles off into the Atlantic on Monday at ~3pm.  At this point the probable track cone does not even include the DC area.  As for current rain in the DC area, it has rained a good deal their recently.  That rain is in no way related to Joaquin.  To see this, check out the national radar at any weather site.  Currently Joaquin's rain bands are ~175 miles in diameter.  You can take a look at Nassau's current weather to get a good sense of the storm as it is now: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=nassa….

As for predicted rainfall in the College Park area, models (see e.g. http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/zmw:20738.7.99999) are not predicting ~4 inches of rain FRIDAY into SATURDAY morning, but no or little rain Saturday afternoon into Sunday, and no rain Sunday and beyond.

As can be seen here, East Coast news stations are actually noting a greater threat of flooding and damaging winds from the "Nor'easter" that will buffet the area Friday into Saturday, than any effects of the entirely unrelated Joaquin on Monday into Tuesday.  http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2015/10/01/tracking-joaq….

It looks like moving the game will end up being unnecessary, with respect to Joaquin, and may even be a negative with respect to the Friday-Saturday Nor'easter.... but officials had to make a decision, and they made the one they thought was safest.  The models (and trends in the model changes) at this point are indicating little impact on the US coast, and impact on the DC area no sooner than Monday afternoon, if any impact at all.  While the models may still change, every moment that Jaoquin lingers in the Bahamas (who are getting pummelled!) the more effect the strong front bringing the Nor'easter to the East Coast Friday-Saturday will have pushing Jaoquin out into the Atlanitc.

Personally, I'd rather a night game... more convienent for me... but ultimately, all I want is a solid win, with more great defense, continued steps forward for all facets of the offense, and no major injuries.  I'll happily watch a game like on DVR if I can't manage the live broadcast, even if the game ends up moved for no reason!

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