South Carolina cancels Marshall game due to Hurricane Florence

With potentially catastrophic and historic impacts from Hurricane Florence bearing down on the Carolinas, South Carolina’s administration made the prudent decision to go ahead and pull the plug on Saturday’s home game against Marshall.

“Whether or not the game could have been played, we made the decision we think is best for the state and those who are evacuating the coast,” athletics director Ray Tanner said in a release sent out by the school. “There is no question this is the right thing to do and the decision was supported by President Pastides, Coach Muschamp, our Board members and myself.”

The contest, originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m., might have been in the thick of the inclement weather projected for the area — especially since updated forecasts have only gotten worse for South Carolina. Even if Columbia manages to escape some of the more severe effects of the storm, tying up emergency personnel with a football game isn’t exactly an appropriate use of resources.

The Gamecocks will look to squeeze in another game later this year, with the date and opponent yet to be determined.