Hurricane Irma Effect: Two College Football Games Will Be Played in Birmingham Instead of Florida

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Just one week after hosting the triumphant return on UAB football, Legion Field will play host to two more college football games. This may sound like nothing new, as Legion Field has been hosting football games since 1927. However, the circumstances this weekend are definitely out of the ordinary. Due to the threat of Hurricane Irma to Florida and Georgia this weekend, Georgia Southern University and Florida International University have each moved their scheduled home games to Legion Field this weekend.

FIU will play Alcorn State at 6:00. tonight, and Georgia Southern will play New Hampshire Saturday at 3 p.m. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

“This is about people helping people,” said UAB athletics director Mark Ingram said. “We want everyone to be as safe as possible and extending the offer to play at Legion Field is in the best interest of both teams. The UAB Department of Athletics has benefited from the help of thousands of people over the last few years so this is just one small way to pay it back.”

The Georgia Southern v. New Hamphire game is free to attend.

(Photo courtesy of Birmingham Parks and Recreation)