College football fans in Tallahassee experienced an unexpected delay on Monday night when a power outage struck Doak Campbell Stadium just minutes before the scheduled start of the No. 19 SMU Mustangs versus Florida State Seminoles matchup. The outage, caused by an electrical short in the main transformer’s west‑side tower, halted all stadium lighting and essential game‑day technology.
Delay details and on‑field conditions
The power loss forced officials to suspend the game for roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes. After electricians began restoring service, the teams finally took the field for warm‑ups at 9:00 p.m. EDT, and the contest officially began at 9:15 p.m. under reduced lighting. Not all stadium lights were functional, and several critical support systems remained offline, including coach‑to‑player communication devices, sideline iPads, the public address system, and the electronic scoreboard.
Without a visible game clock, on‑field officials kept time manually, while some replays were still displayed on the Jumbotron. A message 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.”
Administrative response
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips joined athletic directors Damon Evans of SMU and Michael Alford of Florida State for a brief discussion on the field before both schools’ administrators retreated inside to explore further options. The delay pushed back the highly anticipated Labor Day finale, which had been slated as the weekend’s first full slate of games.
Fan experience during the outage
Despite the technical setbacks, fans remained engaged. Florida State’s punter rallied the crowd, encouraging them to stand and cheer, while the school’s marching band performed in one end zone. Attendees participated in a wave and tossed beach balls, keeping the stadium atmosphere lively even as the lights flickered.
Both teams briefly returned to the field to warm up once power was partially restored. After the delay, the Seminoles (1‑0) and Mustangs (0‑0) resumed play, with the game proceeding under the compromised conditions.
Looking ahead
The incident underscores the importance of reliable infrastructure for major sporting events, especially in venues that host high‑profile college football contests. Stadium officials have indicated that a thorough review of the electrical system will be conducted to prevent similar disruptions in future games.
While the power outage created logistical challenges, the resilience of the players, coaches, and fans ensured that the game could move forward, delivering the excitement that college football enthusiasts expect from a top‑ranked matchup.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
