Hurricane Florence: Virginia Tech, U.Va. Alter Football Plans

BLACKSBURG, VA—Concerns about Hurricane Florence have prompted East Carolina's football team to pull out of Saturday's scheduled game at 13th-ranked Virginia Tech, the Pirates announced Tuesday.

The Greenville, NC, school said in a release that it "has decided it will not travel to Blacksburg for Saturday's football game against Virginia Tech due to the forecast track of Hurricane Florence that includes the high probability of a catastrophic impact on the region and perilous travel conditions before, during and after the storm."

Meanwhile, Florence also has impacted the University of Virginia's football team. The Cavaliers announced Tuesday that Saturday's home game against Ohio instead will be played at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. The Commodores' stadium was available because Vandy plays at Notre Dame.

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Update: Florence Prompts Mandatory Evacuation In VA

Said U.Va. athletics director Carla Williams in a statement: "Our top priority is the safety of everyone involved and I appreciate the understanding of our fans."

As for the Hokies, athletics director Whit Babcock said in a release he would have preferred to have waited another day before making any call about the game.

"We will do what's best for Virginia Tech moving forward as it relates to ECU and to the game," he said. "We certainly understand the need for safety, of course, we just felt that tomorrow, making the decision then, would've been more responsible and accurate. We informed ECU of this multiple times."

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