Tallahassee, Fla. – The highly anticipated season‑opening game between No. 19 SMU and the Florida State Seminoles was postponed for almost two hours on Monday night after a sudden power outage knocked out the lights at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Power went down just minutes before the scheduled 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Stadium officials estimated the outage lasted about 1 hour, 45 minutes. The teams finally took the field for warm‑ups at 9 p.m. EDT, and the game officially started at 9:15 p.m. under reduced lighting and a host of technical challenges.
Technical setbacks on the field
When play resumed, not all of the stadium lights were functioning. The loss of power also disabled coach‑to‑player radios, sideline iPads, the public address system, and the scoreboard. Without a public game clock, on‑field officials kept time themselves, while some replays were still shown on the Jumbotron.
Coach‑to‑player communication was restored with about six minutes left in the second quarter, and the scoreboard regained its clock and yardage displays shortly thereafter.
Officials and administrators respond
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips met with athletic directors Damon Evans of SMU and Michael Alford of Florida State on the field during the delay. After a brief discussion, the administrators moved inside the stadium to explore further options.
A message displayed on the Jumbotron read: “Technical staff are addressing a power disruption to the west side tower due to an electrical short in the main transformer. Electricians are working to restore the power service. The game remains suspended. Update to follow.”
Fans adapt to the situation
Despite the challenges, fans remained upbeat. Florida State’s punter encouraged supporters to stand and cheer, the school band performed in one end zone, and spectators participated in a wave while tossing beach balls.
Both teams had already emerged from their tunnels onto the sidelines just before the delay was announced, and after the power was partially restored, players returned to the field for a brief warm‑up before the game officially resumed.
Impact on the season opener
The delay pushed the start of the Labor Day weekend’s first full slate of ACC games back, but the teams ultimately completed the contest. While the unusual circumstances created a memorable opening night, the outcome on the field will be judged on the players’ performance rather than the technical hiccup.
For fans who missed the live action, a full recap of the game will be available later on the university’s athletic sites and major sports networks.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
