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10/09 15:14 CDT Georgia-Alabama showdown is on schedule despite approach of
Hurricane Isaias; Trump will skip game
Georgia-Alabama showdown is on schedule despite approach of Hurricane Isaias;
Trump will skip game
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) --- The Southeastern Conference college football clash
between No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Alabama remained on schedule for Saturday night
despite the looming arrival of Hurricane Isaias along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
President Donald Trump, however, will no longer attend the game in Tuscaloosa,
Alabama. Trump posted on his social media site Friday that "based on the fact
that a huge Hurricane/Storm is coming, it is important to have our wonderful
First Responders, Law Enforcement, and others, focused on that Storm, and in no
way be thinking about the safety, or presence, of the President of the United
States, ME!"
"Therefore, I will miss that potentially unbelievable Game, Alabama vs.
Georgia," Trump continued. "But, hopefully, the Game will go on despite the
weather!"
He also promised, without providing details, "I will be visiting both of those
Teams at a later date."
Forecasters have warned of a significant storm surge, damaging winds, flooding
and possible tornadoes before the storm loses steam inland. ESPN's "College
GameDay" show was moved indoors instead of being outside near the stadium, and
Alabama officials shortened tailgating hours on campus, barring tents amid
concerns about high winds.
Tuscaloosa is about 200 miles north of the Alabama coast and an hour's drive
from the Mississippi state line. There is a chance the storm has largely passed
Tuscaloosa by the 7:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff and conditions at Bryant-Denny
Stadium may be more soggy than a gusty downpour.
Georgia's campus in Athens is about 275 miles east of Alabama's campus in
Tuscaloosa. Leland Barrow, associate sports communications director for the
Bulldogs, said on Friday that the team's travel plan remained unchanged and on
schedule.
High schools and colleges along the coast have altered plans for their sports
teams, however, including the Southwestern Athletic Conference moving Florida
A&M's game at Alabama State up one day to Friday morning. But all eyes had been
on Georgia's visit to Alabama for one of the biggest games of the season so far.
In 1988, Alabama postponed a September game at Texas A&M to December because of
Hurricane Gilbert. Georgia had a 2016 game at South Carolina postponed 24 hours
to Sunday due to Hurricane Matthew, and the LSU-Florida game that same Saturday
was pushed back to November.
Both coaches earlier this week said they were handling their schedules as usual.
"It's uncertainty beyond my control," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. "I'm
focused on trying to prepare our team and game plan and scheme."
___
Associated Press Writer Collin Binkley contributed from Washington.
___
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