How Georgia football is bracing for tropical storm impact on Alabama game
· Yahoo Sports
Georgia football’s top 10 matchup at Alabama is still on for Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET even with a tropical storm that could become the first hurricane of the season expected in that state on game day.
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Coach Kirby Smart was asked late Wednesday morning Oct. 7 if he's part of conversations about how the impending storm called Isaias could alter the kickoff time or day or the game and the team's travel plans.
“I’m focused on trying to prepare our team and game plan and scheme and all those things," he said. "I have an update and they keep me updated with what’s going on, meetings, decisions, way things are leaning, things like that, but not as far as input.”
Alabama athletics released a statement on Tuesday night saying it is “closely monitoring the weather forecast,” but “at this time there are no plans to alter the contest. We will continue to observe conditions throughout the week and remain in communication with the Southeastern Conference, as needed.”
James Spann, an Alabama-based meteorologist, posted on X Wednesday morning: “Concerning the Alabama/Georgia football game Saturday night... best possible case is for a faster moving system. Rain could end before kickoff with diminishing wind. That is a very real possibility. But, with the current NHC (National Hurricane Center) forecast rain is still likely for the game with winds of 20-30 mph. And, a tornado threat is on the table as well with Isaias passing to the west.”
He added later: “Most reliable models now suggest the rain will be ending sometime between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. (CT) with diminishing wind.”
Georgia typically practices with wet balls to prepare for slick conditions if they are possible, but Smart can't be sure what could be in store for the game.
“It’s uncertainty beyond my control," he said. "So we as coaches, game plan for multiple situations. You know weather conditions when they’re there. ...You can’t really practice conditions. You can’t simulate them so you’re much better off to educate, learn from the past from other people who played in them and prepare to your team and not make it about that.”
The forecasts vary.
Meteorologist Wes Wyatt of WRBC in Birmingham posted on X on Wednesday morning regarding the game that “some new guidance is showing things moving along much faster this weekend. The latest run of the Baron 3km shows heaviest rain exiting in the afternoon.”
Brad Nitz of WSB in Atlanta said, also on X that “the most likely scenario is heavy rain bands and gusty winds in Tuscaloosa Saturday evening. It's possible the storm speeds up and conditions improve by or during the game.”
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: How Georgia football is bracing for tropical storm impact on Alabama game