There's talk about this Florence girl poppin' a squat on the Carolinas and Virginia and with the projected rain amounts for Thursday and into the weekend, does anyone have any insider information with how/if the field will be prepped or if this is looking like a possible Game Postponement situation?
I'm hoping we play, with our track record, I would like to demolish another North Carolina team during excuse driven conditions.
Forums:
DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.
Comments
If the models are right and southwest Virginia gets 12-25 inches of rain, I just can't see this game going on. There will be ridiculous flooding on campus (I am thinking of lot 18 here.) and it won't be safe. Unless things drastically change, I am not expecting the ECU game to be played.
Agreed. Given the record 24-hour rainfall is in the 5.5" range...and that caused substantial flooding a few years ago, Double that amount would be a no-go for the game.
Texas A&M!?
Hurricane Isabel only dropped 1-2 inches of rain in this part of the state.
If I remember correct, we got a good amount of wind though with just a steady downpour.
Part Troi, huh? This is gonna be exciting!
When I watch this gif, I feel like I am their marriage counselor.
I feel like Riker isn't seeking help, he's just bragging.
This episode is great cause Lwaxana is getting all boned up for Picard.
The best we can be after this game is 2-0. The worst we can be after this game is 2-0. Rain games don't count, everyone knows that.
Week 3 Uniform Reveal!
Looks like the Chicken Hill Lot can drain 1.25 ft^3/sec (that's a little shy of 10 gal/sec) and I believe Worsham field can handle it:
Another addition to the facility is the turf and drainage system that was replaced in the summer of 2001 as Tech became the first collegiate football team to have a new state-of-the-art GreenTech ITM natural Bermuda grass sports field system. It provides excellent drainage with irrigation lines and a vacuum system that can handle up to 16 inches of rain an hour. In the winter of 2003-04, a heating system was installed to keep the grass at an optimum temperature during the winter months.
As far as the roadways around town and campus, that is a whole different ballgame, but it looks like the low lying lots and the field should be good to go.
It's been mentioned here before that the vacuum system has not been maintained and is no longer operative.
Besides, you're right that the area around the game (the whole NRV, in fact) is the issue here. The first responders that would be working the game are going to be needed in and around the valley due to the flooding expected. Given that, holding the game would be irresponsible, if Flo comes where she is expected.
Any info as to why they didn't maintain the vacuum system? Seventeen years is a short time to let something like that fall apart...
Bourbon, lots of bourbon
In case anyone is curious what that system looked like .. Check out the 2003 Texas A&M game on youtube - the vacuum drainage system makes it on camera a few times.
seems like they still have it
looks barn-fresh.
Looked much better in 2003. At 1:19:41 here:
So... is that 2:31:41, or..........
Ugh
Dammit man, you can't just post that video when I have stuff I'm trying to get done...now it's hours later and I've rewatched the whole game (it's one of my all time favorites).
@ 1:28:30, the band is playing Stick It In.
/sigh
I don't think there was ever a problem with system. Last year they didn't hook it up during the Duke game because they didn't expect the rainfall to be that heavy. I'm guessing they learned their lesson.
I was wondering if they had used it for that game. I remember walking up the stairs in what was almost like a scene from Titanic and looked back at the field to be amazed at the amount of water.
The only mention I've heard of the vacuum system being non operational was during/after the Duke game last year. Turns out it was inactive then because it requires a pretty considerable setup time and they didn't expect that kind of downpour.
That makes much more sense than what I thought I'd read. Thanks.
That 1.25 cfs is just referring to the water quality orifice and has no bearing on the total flow rate that the system can handle. Any flow past 1.25 cfs will bypass over a weir wall in the flow splitter box. Detention systems like these are not usually the bottleneck that causes flooding. The conveyance system (catch basins and pipes) is usually what gets overwhelmed during high intensity events. Gutter spreads are usually only designed to 4"/hr or the 2 year storm, and the pipes are usually designed for the 10 or 25 year event.
Source: I'm a stormwater engineer and frequently design systems like these.
Dang, I just thought you were super into this stuff.
Why not both? I'm not a meteorologist, but I geek out like one when we get huge rainfall events like this. As terrifying as these hurricanes are, it's a great opportunity for engineers to evaluate how our designs are holding up in practice. I'll be taking a ton of field trips to my projects after Florence passes through.
Well said. Have a leg from a fellow stormwater guy.
And a third.
People ask me what I do and my break-the-ice response is "make water flow downhill." But in areas that frequently don't even have double digit elevations, that can be trickier than thought.
Coastal projects are the bane of my existence. The only nice part is that you're usually working with Class A (sandy) soils and can count on a good amount of infiltration.
But that pesky tide doesn't always play nice...
Thankfully I haven't worked on any projects that close to the ocean.
It makes me drink.
I haven't had that problem either but more props to ya. I've been on one project that was around 10 feet above sea level and it was just a pure guess about where water went pre-development cause it was so flat.
via GIPHY
I would be pretty surprised if we had a game this weekend.
Pretty much anticipating this game to not get played, based on the current forecast for SWVA.
That being said, find some high ground.
What are we drinking for this hurricane?
Same thing we drink every other day. Busch Latte
Is that what you call them when you drink them before noon?
It's a thing: https://www.foodandwine.com/news/busch-latte
A nice, classy box of wine
Gonna pick up a 6-pack of some sort of stout, haven't decided what though.
I can suggest anything from Southern Tier -if you have access to up your way. They make some great stuff.
Can't believe this hasn't been suggested yet.
Also acceptable.
I had to google this to find the recipe. Dark rum and ginger beer, with a lime. Sounds interesting.
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/dark-and-stormy-235964
Sounds like a perfect drink!
Might have to pick up some glorious 6-pack of 16 oz cans for less than $6 from 7-11
Seems like a good weekend to prep with a large pot of chili and a growler fill of Victory at Sea from Ballast Point.
Almost as delicious as Country Club.
I have got the canoe ready for tailgating this weekend if the game happens. But I expect by tomorrow or Wednesday they are going to call it off.
Do we have any historical precedent for VT cancelling games (outside of the famous GT game in 2000, which was cancelled day of IIRC)?
Do we know when we should expect to hear from VT?
I honestly expect it to be canceled from the ECU side before VT would cancel it. But I am sure they are all talking.
You did not specify, so I will throw this game in there: the 2012 spring game (which was going to be arguably more competitive than this upcoming ECU game)!
That was my first Spring Game that I attended as an alumni, and due to the amount of booze I consumed I wouldn't have remembered the game had it happened.
Sounds like there was still a victory that day!
I am worried that if the game's postponed, they will move it to the week before we play GT. Eliminating our long bye week to prepare and leaving us with 5 days to prepare.
I'd like to imagine that Whit knows that bye week is more important than rescheduling a non conference game against an irrelevant opponent.
I guess it wouldn't make much sense to reschedule them after the LOLUVA game with the whole ACCCG and Playoff schedule we will have to take into consideration.
We won't be in 2017 FSU's shoes that's for damn sure.
Not going to happen. ECU plays UCF at home on October 20.
East Carolina has a game that weekend. I don't think we can make it up.
ECU is playing UCF.
In order for that to happen the UCF and ECU game would have to get pushed back a week, which is possible since they both have byes. But it would also require UCF to agree to a short week too. UCF plays the Thursday night game the week after we play GT on Thursday. I doubt VT and UCF will both agree to play short weeks.
Would VT agree to a future home and home with UCF to agree to the move? I am just thinking that there has to be a strong financial incentive for Whit to want to play this one.
No can do....ECU is scheduled to play UCF that weekend.
Could do a day-night double header with loluva on Black Firday. Those two games would effectively be like playing one whole one.
If both games weren't home games for us, we could play split squads like in MLB spring training. Half our guys play ECU, half play LOL.
Maybe we play each for a half since both are home games. Or, play UVA in the Beamer Barn. Only seems fitting since we will be taking them out to the woodshed.
We could let the LOL-UVA half play at Scott Stadium. That's like a home game for us.
I was thinking like rec soccer double header. One at noon. One at 7pm. Maybe a 45 minute game instead of 60 for each one. Just an idea.
Hell, just play each for a half since both SHOULD be over by halftime anyways.
I've actually just heard that they play UCF that weekend.
The most simple re-schedule scenario is moving GT to 10/20 and ECU to 10/27. Nothing else would have to move.
I'm sure ESPN would complain because they're losing their Thursday night marquee game. That's okay, because they usually schedule two at that timeslot these days, don't they?
Baylor-WVU us that night but it's a FS1 game
The GT-Miami game last year was moved off a Thursday to allow the Miami-FSU game to be moved.
You're talking about rescheduling a conference game though. Of course they are going to make sure they get that one in. Nobody cares if we don't play ECU.
I was just pointing out that ESPN gave up a Thursday game to accommodate weather adjustments.
Personally, I don't think there's an advantage to anyone to tweak our schedule around the GT game. VT wants the extra time to prepare, while fans and ESPN want the Thursday night game.
I bet fans that actually want the Thursday night game are the minority.
I bet you haven't been to a Thursday night game.
Wrong.
I'll take that bet.
You're trying to tell me the *majority* of our fanbase would re-work our schedule and lose a bye week before a *Thursday night* Georgia Tech game so we can play East Carolina, of all teams? Bruh...
So your saying I should play Steven peoples in fantasy on Saturday? Nothing like a sure handed bowling ball when it'll be impossible to pass the ball.
The only way I could see us making up this game (if cancelled) would be if we were somehow 5-6 going into the ACC Championship weekend.
I'm supposed to be making the trip to Greenville, SC, for the Marshall-USCe game on Saturday. Right now the forecast says Greenville isn't going to get hit. What are the chances the storm pushes a little west and ravages west SC?
EDIT: I meant Columbia, not Greenville.
I wouldn't be making that trip at this point, friend.
Live in Columbia.
1) There are a ton of people here that came from the coast.
2) we have absolutely no idea where this thing is going but all current projections have it dumping a ton of rain (10+") on us.
3) Columbia is in Central Carolina, its most definitely going to rain at the very least.
Game was cancelled today. Thanks for the insight though.
hey guys?
is it too late to mention that some random weekend later in the season, that UCF and ECU play each other... unbeknownst to what we're talking about or any weather-related issues pending?
...asking for a friend
But I think we're free that weekend soo.....
So if the game is cancelled, anyone know how the ticket office will handle it? Credit toward a future game? Thanks for the donation?
I will just have to act twice a fool at Notre Dame
if anything like the last canceled game, they'll do nothing, and not mention it hoping that enough time will pass that everyone forgets that VT kept ticket revenue for a game that was never played.
Yeah, I had friends that never got refunded for that game. I'm not letting that happen.
Why is everyone suggesting they move the game? That is idiotic. We'd lose a bye week and a Thursday night game. This game is only going to be rescheduled if we are struggling to be bowl eligible. Non-conference games are rarely rescheduled.
This. This is why I want to know if I'll be refunded or credited.
With current projections for rainfall and damaging winds, it would be pretty irresponsible to host the game imo. Emergency personnel are needed in other parts of the state and getting that many people in one area during dangerous conditions would be reckless.
I remember an article two years ago after our game at UNC that reprimanded UNC for allowing the game to go on as scheduled, as well as both Duke and NC State who hosted games that same day. All of which probably should not have been played since NC took such a big hit with Matthew (26 dead in NC alone).
I don't see NC State's game against WVU or UNC hosting UCF happening either.
We could move the game up too Wednesday we're going to kill them no matter what day it is
According to a source I trust with the University:
So we probably wont know anything until Wednesday at the earliest.
About that time, ECU's campus will likely already be feeling some hurricane-force winds.
and also a strong buzz from all the hurricane parties!
So I know the 1-0 crowd is gonna get on me but one has to ask...how will cancelling this game affect our playoff chances when we're being considered at the end of the season against another team that played a full 12-13 games?
If we beat Clemson in the ACCCG it wouldn't matter if we only played 10 regular season games. We'd be in.
11-0 is as good as 12-0 when your cancelled game is ECU
11-0 is probably better than 12-0 the way ECU is playing.
If ECU craps the bed the rest of the season I'm sure someone will forget we didn't play and include it in our SOS anyway...
Edit: /s
Even if they don't crap the bed, this is already an assumed win for us. We won't be penalized for missing this one, and it may help out our SOS, if we ever get to the point of needing it.
Look at Miami last year. Only having 11 games didn't affect them.
You could argue that UCF losing the GT game hurt them though has it was their only P5 game.
If they do cancel it I'm glad we have ODU before we hit Duke and Notre Dame. After a good start I'd hate us to have too much time off before we hit our first few quality opponents.
via GIPHY
Possible move to Thursday night?
No
Friday is on the table.
Friday early? Supposed to have TS winds nearing the area by that evening.
Didn't we move another game like that in the last few years? Or am I thinking of someone else? There was some back lash IIRC.
The only game I can think of in relatively recent memory that was affected by weather was the Friday night game against NC State in 2015. The game wasn't delayed that much, but it did cause problems for people getting in and settled before kickoff.
But I can't think of any VT games that were moved to different days, or even different time slots due to weather or some other last minute change.
If cancelled, it will surely be rescheduled for 2021. We were actually showing a break in this infinitely long series then, so this would fill the gap and keep us running out through...... wait for it..... 2025. Ugh.
By my count, there are 11 games that are at risk of being cancelled. Obviously I want to see us play (if it's safe). Outside of that, I'd REALLY hate to see them cancel UCF's beatdown of UNC.
Games schedule to be played in the path or close to the path:
Boston College @ Wake Forest
Campbell @ Coastal Carolina
UCF @ North Carolina
UTEP @ Tennessee
East Carolina @ Virginia Tech
Ohio @ Virginia
Georgia Southern @ Clemson
West Virginia @ NC State
Southern Mississippi @ Appalachian State
Old Dominion @ Charlotte
Marshall @ South Carolina
I doubt Boone and Knoxville would get hit hard enough to consider cancelling the game. Blacksburg is right in the middle of the projected path, meaning we're likely to get a ton of rain from it.
Campbell @ Coastal has been moved to Bueis Creek for Wednesday @2pm.
Anytime, anywhere...
Has the ACC ever switched the home team for a game before? It seems like the easiest solution for the WF-BC game would be to just play it in BC
Don't know about the ACC, but the SEC did it a couple of years ago with USCe and LSU.
Honestly, with rain and <35mph winds being the forecast for Blacksburg, I doubt we would cancel if we were playing a school from outside the region. However, I expect that ECU will request that the game gets cancelled, so that the players and their families can properly prepare for the storm and evacuate if necessary.
The overall problem with this forecast and previous hurricane games is the amount of rain Blacksburg may get. It's ALOT. And that would cause tons of problem with logistics in the area.
But yes ECU will probably want to call it off as well.
I say just move the game up to FedHex and honor VT tickets. The concessions and parking alone should be enough to make it worth snyders while.
FedEx already has a game scheduled for Sunday, they wouldn't have 2 games in one weekend. Not to mention, they're liable to get a ton of rain anyway, and that field is awful even when dry.
That would be a clusterfuck of a game. The parking and traffic is already bad, now let's just add 6"+ of rain on top of completely saturated ground in the middle of Maryland drivers and ridiculous wind gusts. Oh and don't forget their is practically only 1 way in and out of the stadium.