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Lightning Delay: Great Danes vs. Bulls Game Kicks Off Late
4 Sep
Summary
- Game delayed over 2.5 hours due to lightning and rain.
- Field conditions were assessed for safety before play.
- UAlbany received a $315,000 guarantee from Buffalo.
A nonleague football contest between the University at Albany Great Danes and the University at Buffalo Bulls experienced a substantial delay on Thursday night. The game, scheduled to begin at 7:02 p.m., was postponed for over two and a half hours due to severe weather, including lightning and heavy rain, which left the Broadview Stadium field inundated.
Officials, including athletic directors and conference commissioners, conducted a thorough field inspection. Grounds crews applied turf pellets to address particularly wet and soft spots, ensuring player safety. The field, initially covered in puddles, drained sufficiently by the rescheduled kickoff time of 9:44 p.m.
This marks the second consecutive season UAlbany has encountered a prolonged weather delay. Last season, their game at Delaware State took seven hours to complete with two in-game delays. NCAA rules mandate a 30-minute delay after every lightning strike within an eight-mile radius of the venue. UAlbany received a $315,000 guarantee from Buffalo for participating in the game.
