Ike Could Alter FCS Schedule

[TexasTerror]

A little Hurricane Ike update...

Update from SHSU athletics through a member of KatFans.com that called states that SHSU will post an announcement regarding any changes to the SHSU-Prairie View game (currently scheduled for 6 p.m on Saturday night) on GoBearkats.com on Thursday afternoon.

The local school district (Huntsville ISD) has already announced it will be closed Thursday-Monday due to evacuees in the area.

There is also a possibility that the Stephen F. Austin game against Kentucky Weslayan can also be a wash because the storm's path currently curves it in that direction. No

Grambling vs Northwestern State may have actually benefited from the Grambling band forcing the game to be moved to 2 p.m.

And as noted before, the Nicholls State game against Bowie State has been called off due to lingering effects as it relates to the stadium and safety from Hurricane Gustav.

Other schools in Texas...

Texas Southern is in California to play against Shaw this week.
Texas State University-San Marcos has a bye this week.

[TexasTerror]

From SHSU's President...

To the University Community -

Although it is still very early to make definitive decisions concerning the operations and events at SHSU with hurricane Ike looming, it is our present intention to remain open and to hold the Parent's Weekend and the Saturday football game as planned. We will monitor the storm closely and stay in constant contact with local and state officials. If a decision is made to close the university or to cancel scheduled weekend activities we will notify you as soon as that decision is made.

Jim Gaertner, President
SHSU

[McNeese75]

Although it is still early, my eternal optimism is fading regarding us getting the McNeese vs Cal Poly game in on Saturday. I am afraid Ike is going to jog north and even without a direct hit throw some weather our way that will keep the Stangs from coming into town. :(

[TexasTerror]

A press release from SHSU...

http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=1579448

[Down with the Foe!]

Although it is still early, my eternal optimism is fading regarding us getting the McNeese vs Cal Poly game in on Saturday. I am afraid Ike is going to jog north and even without a direct hit throw some weather our way that will keep the Stangs from coming into town. :(

This will be a huge letdown.

I love monster FCS showdowns...this was going to be one of them.

Please keep us posted of the status of this game.

[gokats85]

With evacuations already starting south of Houston, I'm betting PV-SHSU will not happen. The traffic on I-45 will probably resemble the scramble to get away from Hurricane Rita in '05.

[McNeeserocket]

This will be a huge letdown.

I love monster FCS showdowns...this was going to be one of them.

Please keep us posted of the status of this game.

I work at McNeese and so far there has been no decision to cancel the game or start evacuations of the University. If the hurricane would take a direct north jog over night then I am sure McNeese would have to consider canceling the game.

Back in 2005, Hurricane Rita was slated to hit the Galveston area, but took a decidedly Northerly turn over night and the evacuation was ordered. Rita hit the Louisiana/Texas border about 36 hours later. McNeese suffered $30 Million in building damage and millions more in equipment damage. We are just now beginning to get back to normal here. Please pray that Ike goes to nowhere!

[GeauxLions94]

Latest from WWL in New Orleans (5:00 CDT on Wednesday) ... when it makes landfall, I don't expect to see any games west of the Mississippi IMO

Hurricane Ike has been gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico, and is expected to grow into a "very dangerous" category 4 hurricane before slamming into Texas.

Ike is also getting bigger. "Ike is a very large hurricane...and is expected to remain large as it crosses the Gulf of Mexico. Regardless of where the center crosses the coast...the effects of Ike will be felt over a large area," says Senior Hurricane Specialist James Franklin at the National Hurricane Center.

Maximum sustained winds at landfall could be higher than 130 miles per hour.

The current track from the Hurricane Center calls for landfall between Corpus Christi and Houston. The forecast calls for Ike to still be a category two hurricane as it approaches Austin and San Antonio areas in Texas.

Channel 4 Meteorologist Carl Arredondo says Southeast Louisiana will feel some impact from Ike. He says we will see "some wind, some rain and the chance of some coastal flooding."

In the New Orleans area "We'll have winds maybe as high as 30 miles per hour with higher gusts," says Arredondo.

He adds that a Tropical Storm Warning is up for the extreme coastal areas of Louisiana from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Texas state line (see below).

Arredondo says, "Some areas of Lower Plaquemines, Lower Jefferson, Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish may experience some tropical storm force conditions. It may confined to just the extreme coastal areas."

All of South Louisiana will see Ike's band send squalls into the area. "Some of those could be heavy... Some street flooding would not be out of the question for the next couple of days," Carl forecasts.

[TexasTerror]

With evacuations already starting south of Houston, I'm betting PV-SHSU will not happen. The traffic on I-45 will probably resemble the scramble to get away from Hurricane Rita in '05.

The Galveston and High Island folks need to evacuate pretty much anytime anything comes somewhat close to them, because they'll get storm surge flooding and have no way to get to safety...

Until more places in the greater Houston area start talking about evacuations, I do not think the traffic on I-45 will be anything like it was for Rita...

[McNeese75]

One hope we have is the front that is dipping into Lousiana xcoolx

http://http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/gmex/loop-avn.html (http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/gmex/loop-avn.html)

Click the "Fronts" and "Trop Pts" boxes at the top.

[TexasTerror]

Update from GoBearkats...SHSU has canceled the game and is trying to reschedule for Sunday. The game is in the hands of the SLC, SWAC and PV at this point...make it happen!

"We are going to make every effort to play the game. At this point, we will not play Friday or Saturday. Our only option is to play Sunday. We are getting in touch with athletic officials at the Southland Conference and Prairie View to see if this option is workable for all parties ," SHSU Director of Athletics Bobby Williams said. "Please continue to check our web site at www.gobearkats.com for updates."