I think those vacuums that suck the water out of the field need to be mobilized ahead of time. My guess is they didn't think the forecasted rain warranted it and got caught off guard.
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I too wondered about the amount of rain that pooled up during that game. It came down in a deluge at one point, and I wondered if it was just too much too fast. As it turns out, yes, it was. I emailed Tom Gabbard, Virginia Tech's senior associate AD in charge of facilities and operations, and he said that was the case. "Too much water too fast," he wrote back. "Any pause in the rain for even 15 minutes would have made a huge difference. The good news is the footing remained good. Mother nature just wins sometimes."
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The lightning game against GT was worse. Had to walk through over ankle deep water to exit the stadium when they finally called the game. Good thing was we didn't have to play in it things were so bad. Still and all, glad to watch last night's game from the comforts of home.
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Yep, I believe so. We were allowed to exit the stands onto the field area to get out because of the jam up under the stadium that occurred when the storm really got scary. Those of us further up were stuck in the rain and the lightning was about as frightening as I needed to experience. I was wearing hiking boots and they filled up with water. We finally made it out and stopped at Taco Bell for a quick bite and that's when some lowlife GT fan thieves stole our Hokie magnets from my buddy's vehicle. Not a good night for us...or Lee Corso for that matter.
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Was it heavier than the 2009 Miami game? That game was insane - my hood on my rain jacket, which i decided to leave off my head, filled up with water. My phone died that night because of water.
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I photographed this game too! Last night's rain was definitely harder, but the Miami game it rained the whole time, so the total amount of rain was probably the same in the end.
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That Miami game in 09 felt like a night game the entire time because it was just dark because of how thick the cloud cover was and from how much rain was falling. I did not go to the Duke game so tough to compare, but just remember is being a monsoon during the Miami game that got progressively worse as the game went on.
Scanned through about 40 of the photos of that Miami game. I know these are still shots, but I don't see one splash of liquid water off the turf. Saturday night, there was water splashing up everywhere. Huge difference in turf quality.
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That game seemed a lot harder rain to me than the Duke game. The Duke game only seemed really bad for about a quarter and a half. We didn't even bother to put on our ponchos until half.
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I was wondering about this. This was definitely the wettest game I've ever been to, and was a polar opposite to the Nebraska game the week prior (weather AND fans). This game was just solid, pissing rain the whole time. Still loved it!
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I would say it's hard to remember after so many years, but Duke was about as intense of rain as I've experienced in a game. I remember feeling way more miserable during the 2009 Miami game though, I was super cold and felt sick after the game.
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a) had multiple tents and tarps for the UNC tailgate last year
and
b) forcefed everyone enough bourbon to not mind the weather
I know the rain let up by the time the game kicked off (but still coming down pretty good well into the 2nd half) but I can't remember the last time I saw a parking lot start to flood out like that one did during that tailgate. I also remember having to dump my knee-high rainboots no less than 3x during that day, because they kept filling up with water.
Fun times. And I mean that seriously. At a certain point, once everyone embraces the wetness, the whole thing just turns into a fun little party.
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I remember we were heading into Kenan for the game and the ushers were trying to get us to come into the first level under the overhang. Naaah, screw that, went up to the top by the band and had a great old time in the upper deck.
The only thing that sucked was that it was a bit of a cold wind. Usually hurricanes like that bring on the warm tropical winds, but not that day.
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This season has been essentially a countdown of the number of free weeks I have left of my life... š I just hope I'll be able to watch the bowl game.
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For me it was last year in ND, I'm bundled up in the stands, trying to find hand warmers and holding two cups of hot chocolate to keep warm and he is walking around in a polo. He isn't human.
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I can't wait to take Hilgart to Madison in a few years. Would be so cool so see him in that polo on the sideline with a sub-zero wind chill in November.
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Miami 2009 was the wettest game I've ever been to, and this game looked way wetter than that judging by what I was seeing on tv. Players were sliding around, and there was standing water on the field for that game as well. If it rained like it did last night at FedEx Field during a game, the entire field would just be mud.
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A question: How many of those arguing "<insert game here> was worse", were actually at the game yesterday?
Maybe it was the location of my seats, but this was worse that 2009 Miami for me. I had on a weatherproof jacket, a rainjacket, and a poncho contop of everything and was soaked head to toe.
I was amazed at the large crowd that stayed till the very end. It was wet, windy, and cold.
Really enjoyed the cheerleaders doing the "slipperslide festival" in the endzone between 3-4 quarters.
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Was there w/spouse last night and the Miami 2009 game. Worst part about last night was walk back to car - lot 13A. Lots of water on road, jeans soaked from the knees down and boots feeling like they weighed 20 pounds.
But we got the win both times...
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I have been to a grand total of 3 games since I graduated, and it has rained for all 3. One was the Matt Ryan game in 07. This was the most intense rainfall I can remember during a game. 03 Texas A&M was more miserable, but only because the wind was blowing the rain sideways.
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Same. I had multiple waterproof layers on, but that rain still found a way in. I thoroughly enjoyed the game though and those that stayed around us were in great spirits. I was kind of surprised at the number of people that also stuck it out, but I guess they had the same mentality that we did. Once you are soaked through, it can't get much worse.
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For my wife and her best friend, as long as they weren't cold I was given permission to stay to the end. Everybody got soaked, but never cold. So we stayed.
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THIS! We weren't cold, just wet. Even as the rain fell harder we were fine. Towards the end, when the wind started blowing the rain into sheets, it got a little uncomfortable; then the wind changed direction and blew from south to north across the field - started watching the Hokie Vision screen versus the field.
But wasn't cold.
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Season ticket holder since 2004, been there for JMU, Miami, Marshall, BC, and now Duke. I apologize if I forgot any of the other rain games. I would rate BC, Miami, and Marshall all worse than the game on Saturday. It would have been much better if they actually had turned on the pumps under the field.
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Did anyone else walk back by way of center street last night after the game? We ran through about 50ft feet of 1-2ft high water to get to the other side. It was pretty fun all in all and we were already soaked through so it didn't matter. Filled my boots up with an inch of water each by the time we made it to the other side.
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I was at Miami 2009, Marshall 2013 and Duke on Saturday. I was more soaked at Miami and Marshall only because it
A) rained all damn day both times
But it definitely rained much harder Saturday. The deluge in the 2nd half was ridiculous and had it rained that hard all day, there would have been some big time flooding.
and B) I was younger and dumber.
With age comes the wisdom of buying quality rain gear. I cannot echo GoKartMozart's comments in the fam thread louder...FROGG TOGGS. They're awesome. And affordable.
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Don't supposed any of y'all remember the 1993 Maryland game. That was another driving pissing rain the whole game. That was the game where both benches cleared just before halftime for a little extracurricular activity. Left Lane soaked to the bone that day.
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I'm honestly not sure if it rained harder during Irma, or Saturday night. Irma seems more likely, but that may be because it was flying sideways... Mrs and I both had full rainsuits on and were still pretty soaked.
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I was at the BC game (F Matt Ryan) and the 09 Miami game. I was not at Saturday's game, so I can't compare.
For me the 09 game vs. Miami sucked because I drove back to Hampton Roads after the game. I was with a friend, we parked downtown, quickly changed after the game, and then headed home. The drive on 81 was terrible because of the trucks and spray. It was one LONG ASS day.
Oh, we drove up from Hampton Roads that morning.
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Comments
I think those vacuums that suck the water out of the field need to be mobilized ahead of time. My guess is they didn't think the forecasted rain warranted it and got caught off guard.
It's this.
Andy Bitter gets the official answer.
It was possessed by the winning team for more time than it was possessed by the losing team.
You had to be there, it was a downpour after halftime
The forecast was for a total of 1 inch. We had far more than that.
I think that may have been the hardest rain I've ever stood in. The water running down the stands looked like a scene from Titanic.
Ditto. That was insanity. The only time I have ever considered leaving a game early.
I think BC. Miami, and the JMU game might disagree.
The lightning game against GT was worse. Had to walk through over ankle deep water to exit the stadium when they finally called the game. Good thing was we didn't have to play in it things were so bad. Still and all, glad to watch last night's game from the comforts of home.
Isn't that game why they decided to replace the field and put in the vacuum pump system?
Yep, I believe so. We were allowed to exit the stands onto the field area to get out because of the jam up under the stadium that occurred when the storm really got scary. Those of us further up were stuck in the rain and the lightning was about as frightening as I needed to experience. I was wearing hiking boots and they filled up with water. We finally made it out and stopped at Taco Bell for a quick bite and that's when some lowlife GT fan thieves stole our Hokie magnets from my buddy's vehicle. Not a good night for us...or Lee Corso for that matter.
Was it heavier than the 2009 Miami game? That game was insane - my hood on my rain jacket, which i decided to leave off my head, filled up with water. My phone died that night because of water.
That game was the wettest I've ever been in my entire life...my shower this morning included.
I photographed this game too! Last night's rain was definitely harder, but the Miami game it rained the whole time, so the total amount of rain was probably the same in the end.
That Miami game in 09 felt like a night game the entire time because it was just dark because of how thick the cloud cover was and from how much rain was falling. I did not go to the Duke game so tough to compare, but just remember is being a monsoon during the Miami game that got progressively worse as the game went on.
The entire photo album to the Miami game is found here via hokiesports.com
Scanned through about 40 of the photos of that Miami game. I know these are still shots, but I don't see one splash of liquid water off the turf. Saturday night, there was water splashing up everywhere. Huge difference in turf quality.
The field pumps were on for that game...
That game seemed a lot harder rain to me than the Duke game. The Duke game only seemed really bad for about a quarter and a half. We didn't even bother to put on our ponchos until half.
I was wondering about this. This was definitely the wettest game I've ever been to, and was a polar opposite to the Nebraska game the week prior (weather AND fans). This game was just solid, pissing rain the whole time. Still loved it!
I would say it's hard to remember after so many years, but Duke was about as intense of rain as I've experienced in a game. I remember feeling way more miserable during the 2009 Miami game though, I was super cold and felt sick after the game.
2003 Texas a&m, maybe? I really don't know
Wasn't at any of those...so they may have been worse. All I know is I've never seen the Lions Club lot flood, so that was wild.
Lot 18 was ankle deep after the game.
yep, almost had to break out the oars and paddle my way out.
"The U" is jack...
You're only saying this because we
a) had multiple tents and tarps for the UNC tailgate last year
and
b) forcefed everyone enough bourbon to not mind the weather
I know the rain let up by the time the game kicked off (but still coming down pretty good well into the 2nd half) but I can't remember the last time I saw a parking lot start to flood out like that one did during that tailgate. I also remember having to dump my knee-high rainboots no less than 3x during that day, because they kept filling up with water.
Fun times. And I mean that seriously. At a certain point, once everyone embraces the wetness, the whole thing just turns into a fun little party.
Those ski shots will get after ya. Hard. But like I said in another thread, weather games are the best games.
Absolutely!
I remember we were heading into Kenan for the game and the ushers were trying to get us to come into the first level under the overhang. Naaah, screw that, went up to the top by the band and had a great old time in the upper deck.
The only thing that sucked was that it was a bit of a cold wind. Usually hurricanes like that bring on the warm tropical winds, but not that day.
Hell yeah it was cold lol OT but I think I remember seeing on here you and your wife are expecting?
Yep! Christmas Eve due date.
This season has been essentially a countdown of the number of free weeks I have left of my life... š I just hope I'll be able to watch the bowl game.
Congrats man!
yup. that rain was coming down from near, far, wherever you are.
That damn song will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day, now.
There's a joke here but I'm too hungover to make it. Just know that I wanted to.
Is this the joke you were referring to?
Also, does anyone have a picture of Hilgart last night not giving any fucks and just standing in a polo on the sidelines while it poured rain?
EDIT: Thanks Joe! GIF located...
For me it was last year in ND, I'm bundled up in the stands, trying to find hand warmers and holding two cups of hot chocolate to keep warm and he is walking around in a polo. He isn't human.
The man just doesn't care. No matter the weather he wears a polo. I've never seen anyone able to stand up to the cold or rain like him.
I can't wait to take Hilgart to Madison in a few years. Would be so cool so see him in that polo on the sideline with a sub-zero wind chill in November.
Would be great to see that but the Wisconsin game is scheduled for Sept 14.
Link
Hey, it could happen - Madison, WI's weather can be about as unpredictable as Blacksburgs
False
Marshall 2013 triple-overtime was the worst I have seen in Lane. Rain, wind, an epic field goal block, it all happened.
Yeah, that's the one I'll use as a gauge.
Miami 2009 was the wettest game I've ever been to, and this game looked way wetter than that judging by what I was seeing on tv. Players were sliding around, and there was standing water on the field for that game as well. If it rained like it did last night at FedEx Field during a game, the entire field would just be mud.
A question: How many of those arguing "<insert game here> was worse", were actually at the game yesterday?
Maybe it was the location of my seats, but this was worse that 2009 Miami for me. I had on a weatherproof jacket, a rainjacket, and a poncho contop of everything and was soaked head to toe.
I was amazed at the large crowd that stayed till the very end. It was wet, windy, and cold.
Really enjoyed the cheerleaders doing the "slipperslide festival" in the endzone between 3-4 quarters.
Was there w/spouse last night and the Miami 2009 game. Worst part about last night was walk back to car - lot 13A. Lots of water on road, jeans soaked from the knees down and boots feeling like they weighed 20 pounds.
But we got the win both times...
I have been to a grand total of 3 games since I graduated, and it has rained for all 3. One was the Matt Ryan game in 07. This was the most intense rainfall I can remember during a game. 03 Texas A&M was more miserable, but only because the wind was blowing the rain sideways.
For those who are unaware, '03 Texas A&M was when Hurricane Isabel hit
No doubt this was the worse. However, the field was completely dry and I marveled at the lack of mud stains on either uniform.
Same. I had multiple waterproof layers on, but that rain still found a way in. I thoroughly enjoyed the game though and those that stayed around us were in great spirits. I was kind of surprised at the number of people that also stuck it out, but I guess they had the same mentality that we did. Once you are soaked through, it can't get much worse.
For my wife and her best friend, as long as they weren't cold I was given permission to stay to the end. Everybody got soaked, but never cold. So we stayed.
THIS! We weren't cold, just wet. Even as the rain fell harder we were fine. Towards the end, when the wind started blowing the rain into sheets, it got a little uncomfortable; then the wind changed direction and blew from south to north across the field - started watching the Hokie Vision screen versus the field.
But wasn't cold.
Season ticket holder since 2004, been there for JMU, Miami, Marshall, BC, and now Duke. I apologize if I forgot any of the other rain games. I would rate BC, Miami, and Marshall all worse than the game on Saturday. It would have been much better if they actually had turned on the pumps under the field.
Did anyone else walk back by way of center street last night after the game? We ran through about 50ft feet of 1-2ft high water to get to the other side. It was pretty fun all in all and we were already soaked through so it didn't matter. Filled my boots up with an inch of water each by the time we made it to the other side.
I was at Miami 2009, Marshall 2013 and Duke on Saturday. I was more soaked at Miami and Marshall only because it
A) rained all damn day both times
But it definitely rained much harder Saturday. The deluge in the 2nd half was ridiculous and had it rained that hard all day, there would have been some big time flooding.
and B) I was younger and dumber.
With age comes the wisdom of buying quality rain gear. I cannot echo GoKartMozart's comments in the fam thread louder...FROGG TOGGS. They're awesome. And affordable.
Looking them up this morning. Might add them to the Christmas list.
Don't supposed any of y'all remember the 1993 Maryland game. That was another driving pissing rain the whole game. That was the game where both benches cleared just before halftime for a little extracurricular activity. Left Lane soaked to the bone that day.
I'm honestly not sure if it rained harder during Irma, or Saturday night. Irma seems more likely, but that may be because it was flying sideways... Mrs and I both had full rainsuits on and were still pretty soaked.
I was at the BC game (F Matt Ryan) and the 09 Miami game. I was not at Saturday's game, so I can't compare.
For me the 09 game vs. Miami sucked because I drove back to Hampton Roads after the game. I was with a friend, we parked downtown, quickly changed after the game, and then headed home. The drive on 81 was terrible because of the trucks and spray. It was one LONG ASS day.
Oh, we drove up from Hampton Roads that morning.