There's a real 'Cane' in town

Hurricane Georges cancels UCLA-Miami showdown

Posted: Friday September 25, 1998 12:01 AM

Max Mayfield of the National Hurricane Center points at Hurricane Georges heading toward Florida -- Hurricane Georges canceled Miami and UCLA's game this weekend AP

MIAMI (AP) -- The approach of Hurricane Georges on Thursday led Miami to cancel Saturday's game against No. 3 UCLA, although the door was left open for a makeup date at the end of the season.

School officials had held firm to the belief that the game could be played as scheduled, but the posting of hurricane warnings in the Miami area Thursday morning led them to reconsider. The decision was made during a call between Miami president Tad Foote and UCLA chancellor Al Carnesale.

"After a general discussion with Chancellor Carnesale and the athletic directors regarding the safety of students, fans and everyone concerned, it was mutually decided that it would be a mistake to play the game," Foote said.

The announcement came hours before UCLA was to leave for Miami, where their arrival was scheduled shortly before the area was to begin feeling the effects of Georges.

"We're disappointed we're not playing, but I'm pleased we're not going into a situation that's frankly not very good," UCLA coach Bob Toledo said.

Officials with both schools had considered delaying the game a day. But even if the Miami area came through largely unscathed, there were questions whether authorities would release the support people necessary to stage the game.

"The importance of responding to the conditions raised by Hurricane Georges were primary in our decision," Miami athletic director Paul Dee said.

The latest forecasts indicated Georges was likely to slice through the Florida Keys with 105 mph winds Friday before skirting the state's southwest coast and heading into the Gulf of Mexico.

Even so, the Miami area was likely to get pelted with heavy rain and winds as high as 70 mph even under a best-case scenario. And there remained the possibility that Georges could change direction.

Toledo said the decision not to travel was a relief to his players.

"They're intelligent young men. They had their eyes on the Weather Channel like the rest of us," he said. "There was this look in their eyes like, 'Why are we doing this?' Then word came from above that we wouldn't make the trip. There was almost a sigh of relief."

The question of whether the game would be rescheduled remained up in the air Thursday. Miami officials initially indicated that the game would not be made up, offering information about rainchecks for ticketholders and credit toward 1999 season-ticket packages. But Toledo said there still was a chance they could play at the end of the season.

"There's a lot that has to be determined yet," he said. "I think that's why the decision whether to play that game has not been made at this time."

Miami officials did not return phone calls seeking clarification. UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis also was not available for comment.

The game could have major implication in both teams' postseason hopes. The Bruins may need the game to improve their standing in the Bowl Championship Series, the new rating formula used to determine the national-title matchup. Miami, which already has a Division I-AA opponent on its schedule, may need a win to qualify for any bowl.

If the game is rescheduled, the only possible date would be December 5, the week after Miami completes its schedule and two weeks following UCLA's last scheduled game. The teams have no common open dates.

CBS Sports had planned to show Saturday's game nationally, but spokeswoman Robin Brendle said that time now would be given back to local affiliates. Advertisers are likely to receive make-good ads to compensate for the lost exposure.

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