The Swamp couldn’t hold the rain and lightning Friday night, and the Idaho Vandals will have to wait a couple years to potentially plunder an SEC opponent.
After Florida and Idaho had Saturday’s game “terminated due to unsafe field conditions”, the two programs decided not to reschedule the contest this season. Instead, Florida and Idaho will meet a few years from now.
“We looked at a number of options and, in the end, we both thought it was in the best interest of our student-athletes and football programs to play out the remainder of our respective schedules as they stand,” University of Florida Athletics Director Jeremy Foley said in a statement.
Said University of Idaho Athletics Director Rob Spear, “I want to thank UF, especially AD Jeremy Foley, for the professional and first-class way they worked through this issue and the focus on student-athlete welfare. It was not in our best interest to play 10 consecutive weeks without a bye week. We look forward to our return to Florida in 2017.”
Florida will honor its agreement and pay Idaho the $975,000 guarantee by February 1, 2015. Fans that purchased game tickets will be given a full refund.
Both teams will now play 11-game schedules during the regular season. It’s less of a concern for the Vandals after an 1-11 season last year. Their bowl hopes aren’t nearly as realistic as Florida’s.
The Gators, meanwhile, could be in a position where they need that 12th game to become bowl eligible. A team must have six wins to participate in a bowl game. Florida is expected to be drastically improved this season, but there is always the possibility Florida finishes 5-6 due to an inability to reschedule the game this season.
Florida already has Michigan scheduled to open the 2017 season at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The most likely date for the Gators to play Idaho is the following week.
(Hat Tip: University of Florida’s official athletic site)