Sep 2, 2017; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Mike Harley (3) runs past Bethune Cookman Wildcats cornerback Jamaal Burgess (3) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
No. 16 Miami will not play at Arkansas State this weekend as scheduled due to the anticipated extreme impact of Hurricane Irma.
The game will not be made up in 2017.
“The decision to cancel these athletic contests is difficult, especially as some are scheduled to take place away from Miami,” Hurricanes athletic director Blake James said Wednesday. “We made the collective decision that we simply cannot put our student-athletes, coaches and staff in danger travelling to and from contests.”
Getting back to Miami following Saturday’s game was a potential issue. Classes at the university are canceled until at least Monday as the state of Florida is under a state of emergency.
Scott said the recent impact of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and the anticipation that travel could be “extremely difficult and dangerous” simplified the university’s decision.
Coral Gables and the Miami campus are in the evacuation zone, and other sports teams — including Miami’s women’s basketball team — already evacuated to Georgia.
The tropical storm swelled to a Category 5 hurricane and began whipping through the Caribbean overnight Tuesday.
Miami comes into the game off a 41-13 victory over Bethune-Cookman in its opener. The Hurricanes rushed for 317 yards with junior running back Mark Walton rushing for 148 in a little over two quarters. His backup, sophomore Travis Homer, ran for 103 yards.
Arkansas State put a scare into Nebraska in Lincoln in the opener before the Red Wolves fell 43-36.
