Just when it seemed the college football weekend couldn’t get any wilder, a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee threw officials into chaos on Monday night.
Minutes before SMU and FSU were due to wrap up Labor Day weekend with their ACC matchup, the lights unexpectedly went out, forcing players back into the locker rooms.
The game was set to kick off at 7:39 p.m. ET, but a power surge plunged the stadium into darkness just as the teams were taking the field.
Honestly, it’s the kind of situation that could be fodder for jokes about Florida State. Yet, this unfortunate incident spiraled into a night full of confusion.
A pivotal decision loomed large, especially knowing that if the game proceeded, there would be no official replay.
Both SMU and FSU opted to play despite half the stadium being in the dark
Officials from both teams and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips were convening every twenty minutes to discuss possible outcomes if the game couldn’t proceed that night.
Kudos to the fans, who stuck around amid the madness—games sprouted up in the stands, and the Florida State marching band did its best to keep the atmosphere lively. Still, it was quite a mess.
By 8:45 ET, after a third round of discussions, the decision was made to go ahead with the game without any communication systems. This meant no helmet-to-helmet communications, no sideline strategizing, and no iPads for the coaches.
In essence, both teams were forced to revert to a more traditional style of play.
No sideline communication for either team during the game
I’ve seen quite a bit in this sport, but tonight ranks among the wildest occurrences I’ve witnessed in the past twenty years.
Both teams made the questionable choice to play without vital communication methods that are typically standard in college football.
Additionally, sources indicated there were compelling reasons why SMU might have faced difficulties playing the game the following day. They have a matchup against UC Davis on Saturday, while Florida State is off this week.
Sure, postponing the game might have been a wise move, but that would certainly present challenges for Rhett Lashlee and his squad. Rescheduling it for later in the season would also entail its own set of complications.
The stakes were significant for Florida State head coach Mike Norvell, who was already under pressure as the season began.
SMU’s coach, Rhett Lashlee, mentioned that his team hadn’t practiced without communication between coaches and players for over two years. So, tonight was a stark reversion to a time before 2024, when he last lacked communication with his quarterback during a game.
Despite both teams grappling with the same challenges, the implications of the decision to proceed with the game could weigh heavily on one of the coaches.
Ultimately, while this made for an interesting experience for the fans present and those at home, it was a high-stakes gamble for both SMU and Florida State.
