Weather Delays

[1985Vols]

The weather delay rule is getting out of hand. Two weeks in a row we have been delayed more than 1/2 of an entire game because lightening was spotted within an 8 mile radius of the stadium. Both times there was never any lightinening , much less rain, at the stadium. Just another rule that is ruining college football. I understand the danger of lightening but an 8 mile radius, really? Thoughts?

 

[bigorangecrush89]

Gives people yet another reason to decide to watch at home instead of going to the game, I think.

 

[UTK]

It’s beyond dumb

 

[Hulk]

Fire mother nature!!

 

[peaygolf]

Frustrating, but not dumb. In this world we live in, can you imagine the fall out if someone was injured or died during a weather situation?
The radio broadcast was whining about the crowd tossing the fans that were given out on to the field. They were concerned that a player would slip on one and get injured.

 

[Vol$_Deep_11_9]

Rather be safe than sorry.

 

[windyvol]

They are using a lightning alert system. There were definitely lightning strikes. Construction companies use similar systems. My old company used a 30/10 rule. Thirty mile radius for crane work, ten miles for non-crane work. Eight miles seems more than reasonable and if anything is pushing it. If a storm is moving 60 mph, it gives fans eight minutes before it is directly overhead. What’s more is the storm doesn’t need to be directly overhead for a bolt to hit the stadium.

 

[HalfullVol]

They are using a lightning alert system. There were definitely lightning strikes. Construction companies use similar systems. My old company used a 30/10 rule. Thirty mile radius for crane work, ten miles for non-crane work. Eight miles seems more than reasonable and if anything is pushing it. If a storm is moving 60 mph, it gives fans eight minutes before it is directly overhead. What’s more is the storm doesn’t need to be directly overhead for a bolt to hit the stadium.

this information above is the second post I've read this morning that made sense, especially given the litigious times we live in today.

we do, indeed, have informed and level-headed posters here within these hallowed VolNation interwebs walls.

 

[1985Vols]

They are using a lightning alert system. There were definitely lightning strikes. Construction companies use similar systems. My old company used a 30/10 rule. Thirty mile radius for crane work, ten miles for non-crane work. Eight miles seems more than reasonable and if anything is pushing it. If a storm is moving 60 mph, it gives fans eight minutes before it is directly overhead. What’s more is the storm doesn’t need to be directly overhead for a bolt to hit the stadium.

I was looking at my radar app and it was obvious the storm was not going to hit the stadium. This rule was not part of college football several years ago and I can't remember one person ever being struck by lightening at a football game. There's a better chance you'll get hit by a car walking to or from the game. just my opinion but in September , especially in the south and Midwest , there are always going to be pop up storms that produce lightening within 8 miles of most stadiums. Ruins he momentum any team has and also makes the game ridiculously long. It's one thing if there is a storm headed right in the direction of the stadium, like e Oregon game several years ago, however, for two weeks in a row we have had extended delays when there was never a storm that actually occurred at the stadium. Overkill IMO.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Is is a fact or just a joke that Tennessee studied plays while West Virginia ate during their break? If a player is really carbed up at the start of a game, after a couple of hours there could be a huge letdown that could effect physical and mental performance. We sure lost our edge after coming back 3rd quarter. Does the nutritionist travel with the team?

 

[The Original Fade]

Is is a fact or just a joke that Tennessee studied plays while West Virginia ate during their break? If a player is really carbed up at the start of a game, after a couple of hours there could be a huge letdown that could effect physical and mental performance. We sure lost our edge after coming back 3rd quarter. Does the nutritionist travel with the team?

I would think Pruitt has experienced weather delays in the past, let’s trust him on this one and not start advocating for a snack mom in the locker room

 

[DancingOutlaw]

I think I’d rather have my plans slightly altered than risk someone’s kid getting killed cause we just had to have our football.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

Is is a fact or just a joke that Tennessee studied plays while West Virginia ate during their break? If a player is really carbed up at the start of a game, after a couple of hours there could be a huge letdown that could effect physical and mental performance. We sure lost our edge after coming back 3rd quarter. Does the nutritionist travel with the team?

IMO was WVU relaxed and UT was uptight during the weather delay plus UT has a younger team and there was more pressure on Tennessee to do well since it was a new program and they were underdogs.

 

[OneVolNation]

Yeah, they did it when I played too. There was a mandated number of minutes that had to pass between lightning strikes before the game could resume. If it went on long enough, a rain delay could turn into a canceled for inclement weather/reschedule.

 

[Halph66]

Yeah it's a horrible thing, until a lighting strike kills a few or many and all the lawyers start suing the University of Tennessee for not warning the sheeple that they need to seek cover in a lighting storm. SMH.

 

[Air_Force_Vol27]

In the Air Force the whole flighline shuts down if there is lightning within 5. It's not dumb it's a precaution

 

[GAVol]

It’s beyond dumb

That's pretty much the same rationale people use about motorcycle helmets.

 

[Iam4utalways]

I can’t stand it when they force me off the golf course.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

They are using a lightning alert system. There were definitely lightning strikes. Construction companies use similar systems. My old company used a 30/10 rule. Thirty mile radius for crane work, ten miles for non-crane work. Eight miles seems more than reasonable and if anything is pushing it. If a storm is moving 60 mph, it gives fans eight minutes before it is directly overhead. What’s more is the storm doesn’t need to be directly overhead for a bolt to hit the stadium.

In all the years of college football, how many times has that actually happened?

 

[The Original Fade]

That's pretty much the same rationale people use about motorcycle helmets.

There no helmet law here in Arkansas and amazingly people will take that as a license to be idiots and not wear them. It’s as if people think since there’s no law then there’s no risk

 

[The Original Fade]

In all the years of college football, how many times has that actually happened?

How often have you used your life insurance?

 

[Brave Volunteer]

How often have you used your life insurance?

Not a good analogy. Dying is a certainty. Theres no certainty a lightning bolt is going to hit a football stadium in September.

 

[1985Vols]

In all the years of college football, how many times has that actually happened?

My point exactly. If we're going to be this cautious, it would probably be better if we just required all game so on be played in dome stadiums. Or maybe everyone should just stay home and watch on TV since you have a 10 times better chance being hit by a drunk driver on your way home from the game an you do getting struck by lightening from a storm 8 miles away.

 

[The Original Fade]

Not a good analogy. Dying is a certainty. Theres no certainty a lightning bolt is going to hit a football stadium in September.

It’s a perfect analogy. You buy life insurance in case you die prematurely. It’s not likely, but you buy it just in case. Lightning in a stadium isn’t likely, but you stop play just in case

 

[ButchPlz]

Nobody in the US has ever been killed by lightning in a stadium.