South Carolina’s home game against LSU has been moved to Baton Rouge, La. as a result of the flooding disaster brought on by heavy rains in the Columbia area over the weekend.
Details for the game, including kickoff time, are being finalized with officials from LSU and the SEC.
“Yesterday, we made the extremely difficult decision to cancel classes for the week due to the stress 34,000 students would place on the region’s recovering infrastructure, there is no doubt 85,000 fans would exact the same toll,” USC President Harris Pastides said in a release. “In the spirit of supporting our South Carolina community that is so supportive of Gamecock Nation, we have decided to move the game to Baton Rouge. The stress on law enforcement and first responders is too great. Moreover, we’ve had many in the Carolina family directly impacted by the flooding."
The move comes just more than 24 hours after athletics director Ray Tanner said “it’s not a definite” that the game would happen in Columbia. He cited three chief reasons - infrastructure, strain on first responders and water quality at the stadium - that the game may have to be moved.
“On behalf of the University of South Carolina Athletics Department, our thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered the loss of life and property during this tragic flood,” Athletics Director Ray Tanner said. “After much thought and consideration, and in conjunction with local and state authorities and with our own University administration, we have made the decision to move Saturday’s football game to Baton Rouge. Changing venues on such short notice is no easy task, and I would like to thank LSU President F. King Alexander and Athletics Director Joe Alleva for their cooperation and flexibility in working with us to change the site for Saturday’s football game."
There have been over a dozen dams that have been breeched since heavy rainfall pummeled the Midlands over the weekend. There have been 14 confirmed deaths and two more people are currently being searched for on Wednesday morning after a truck that drove through a barricade was swept away by floodwaters, according to The State.
There are still approximately 25,000 Columbia residents without water, which is down from more than 130,000 at its peak.
LSU was also involved the only other time an SEC game was moved in the last 20 years. The Tigers’ game against Arizona State was moved in 2005 to Tempe, Ariz. after Hurricane Katrina.
The Tigers have already lost one game this year and will only play 11 after canceling their opening game of the season against McNeese State because of lightening. The game was unable to be rescheduled.
Ticket information on refunds and credits is forthcoming.
Details for the game, including kickoff time, are being finalized with officials from LSU and the SEC.
“Yesterday, we made the extremely difficult decision to cancel classes for the week due to the stress 34,000 students would place on the region’s recovering infrastructure, there is no doubt 85,000 fans would exact the same toll,” USC President Harris Pastides said in a release. “In the spirit of supporting our South Carolina community that is so supportive of Gamecock Nation, we have decided to move the game to Baton Rouge. The stress on law enforcement and first responders is too great. Moreover, we’ve had many in the Carolina family directly impacted by the flooding."
The move comes just more than 24 hours after athletics director Ray Tanner said “it’s not a definite” that the game would happen in Columbia. He cited three chief reasons - infrastructure, strain on first responders and water quality at the stadium - that the game may have to be moved.
“On behalf of the University of South Carolina Athletics Department, our thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered the loss of life and property during this tragic flood,” Athletics Director Ray Tanner said. “After much thought and consideration, and in conjunction with local and state authorities and with our own University administration, we have made the decision to move Saturday’s football game to Baton Rouge. Changing venues on such short notice is no easy task, and I would like to thank LSU President F. King Alexander and Athletics Director Joe Alleva for their cooperation and flexibility in working with us to change the site for Saturday’s football game."
There have been over a dozen dams that have been breeched since heavy rainfall pummeled the Midlands over the weekend. There have been 14 confirmed deaths and two more people are currently being searched for on Wednesday morning after a truck that drove through a barricade was swept away by floodwaters, according to The State.
There are still approximately 25,000 Columbia residents without water, which is down from more than 130,000 at its peak.
LSU was also involved the only other time an SEC game was moved in the last 20 years. The Tigers’ game against Arizona State was moved in 2005 to Tempe, Ariz. after Hurricane Katrina.
The Tigers have already lost one game this year and will only play 11 after canceling their opening game of the season against McNeese State because of lightening. The game was unable to be rescheduled.
Ticket information on refunds and credits is forthcoming.
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