s1105615

September 28th, 2016 at 10:50 PM ^

Better question in the same vein: Assume thunderstorms hit Ann Arbor 15 minutes before kick off...how long would the storms have to stay in the area before the game is postponed/cancelled?

s1105615

September 28th, 2016 at 10:58 PM ^

Would TV play into the decision? I know games have been cancelled for hurricanes and such so it's not unprecedented. I'm nkt saying the weather will be that bad on Saturday, just wondered if anyone knew if there are had and fast rules about it...Like would they let a game be delayed 6 hours and still try to play it?

Mr. Yost

September 28th, 2016 at 11:13 PM ^

If that 6 hours still gets a restart at a reseasonable hour...then that's not out of the question. Especially if they make the call early. It's better to just say at 3p...okay we're not playing until 9p then to go back and forth trying to start, then nope...we can't, then trying to start again, then...nope still can't.

Easier on everyone to just set a new time if the weather isn't going anywhere. That way everyone can plan accordingly.

If it's a system moving through then you just have to keep looking at your weather software and you restart the clock every lighting strike. But if you know the system is moving and there's nothing behind it...then you just wait it out until you're all clear.

 

Going back to your question...if you had a 8p or 9p night game kick and you're talking 6 hours...that's completely different. No shot. No one is kicking off a college football game at 2 or 3am.

Mr. Yost

September 28th, 2016 at 11:08 PM ^

Not going to cancel it...but they'd try to make the call on postponing before then.

Better to not have the guys warm up for an hour just to go sit in a locker room. Also have to think about meals/when was the last time they ate, etc.

So if it's a typical thunderstorm...you ride it out 30 minutes after the last lightning strike in the area. Usually 8 or 10 miles depending on the stadium. That's standard.

However, if it's something that's going to last all frickin day...the admin will have some things to think about.

I haven't looked at the forecast, but if there is a lot of lightning predicted and it's storming before kickoff and not showing that it'll let up. You're much more likely to see them just pick a new start time. For example, they'll just say, game postponed until 7p and you won't have to worry about the 30 minutes and waiting around.

Generally when this happens, all fans are allowed back in with a ticket stub. Teams undress and chill until it's time to start everything all over again. TV scrambles to figure something out...likely bumping us to ESPN2 or ESPNEWS or whatever. Clemson/L'Ville is the 8p game on ABC.

A lot goes into it.

The only ways they're canceling the game is:

1. They're 100% certain the storms (lightning) aren't going to let up all day or it's catastropic weather.

2. They've started the game and it's not going to let up for some crazy long amount of time (once you start a game, it's tough canceling it, but the clock also starts ticking on a lot of logistics). But you can't start a game, get to 4p and then sit around until midnight.

That said, it's a conference game. I suppose they could move it to Sunday, but they're going to play the damn game, no question about it. Wisconsin isn't leaving without a game being played.

 

...I feel like I got way ahead of myself with having any CLUE what the weather is looking like...but those are some things that go into the decision making process. They're going to do everything they can and more to play, but they're not going to start/stop/start/stop a million times. It's unsafe and isn't fair to the athletes, that's how people get hurt.

The longer the delay, the less fans come into the equation...at a certain point they're just trying to get a game in.

FYI - no chance they move it up. At least I've never seen that done in this TV modern era. Maybe at a local high school they'd do it.

SCS100

September 28th, 2016 at 11:25 PM ^

The bigger problem is that thunderstorms are likely in the afternoon--particularly during the game (as of the current forecast)--and lightning screws up everything. It's still early so maybe we'll get lucky on timing.

I dumped the Dope

September 28th, 2016 at 11:36 PM ^

hAs "occasional light drizzle" with 57% of the land area getting precip at an expected rate of 0.1".

Most kayaks draw more water than that ;-)

I'd say the biggest chance of closure is the UMGC which doesn't really need the money and would rather protect its turf.  AAGO which I think actually needs the money, will be open unless the turf is washed away from the topsoil.

Still, this is Michigan.  I plan to survey the weather and radar the morning of, as usual I'll have raingear ready.

andidklein

September 29th, 2016 at 5:30 AM ^

Looks like the skies will be clear at about 2am Saturday Morning. I'm sure we'd have no problem still filling the Big House at that time.




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KC Wolve

September 29th, 2016 at 8:45 AM ^

Damn, I looked a couple days ago and it was perfect this weekend. Picked a great game for my annual trek but damn you rain!!! Hopefully we get lucky and it breaks Saturday.




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MotownGoBlue

September 29th, 2016 at 9:30 AM ^

It'll be raining off and on from now through Sunday. Considering the ground is already soaked and flood warnings have been issued for today, I'd say there is next to zero chance the golf course will be open on Saturday.