University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee-Arkansas Game Delayed
September 08, 2001 | Football
Sept. 8, 2001
FAYETTEVILLE (Ark.) - Dangerous lightning continues to plague tonight's Tennessee-Arkansas game. The game was delayed for the second time at 9:42 p.m. (EDT) due to dangerous conditions. The Vols and Hogs returned to the field at 10 p.m. and are slated to resume play at 10:10 p.m. The second delay lasted 21 minutes.
After a 13-minute delay of the kickoff due to lightning in the area, the Vols and Hogs kicked off in a steady rain at 9:15 p.m. (EDT). Following an exchange of punts, the lightning returned, followed by heavy rain. Teams were again ordered off the field for their protection and fans were instructed to find cover until the storm passed.
The game was officially "delayed indefinitely" for the second time tonight at 9:43 p.m. The teams were ordered off the field under similar circumstances during pregame warmups by SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer, who is in attendance.
During pregame warmups, the game was "delayed indefinitely" by game officials at the University of Arkansas because of dangerous lightening in the Northwest Arkansas area.
Teams returned to their warmups at 8:55 p.m. after being called off the field almost 30 minutes earlier due to lightning in the area. Arkansas returned to the field first, followed by Tennessee a minute later.
The Vols and Hogs were scheduled to kickoff the Southeastern Conference opener at 9 p.m. (EDT) on ESPN2. At 8:20 p.m., both teams were ordered off the field by Kramer. Eight minutes later, a public address announcement was made to the crowd to clear the stadium until furter notice.
Kramer said there are three options in a case like this--To delay the game indefinitely, postpone the game or reschedule it. He added that the game could not start or resume after midnight local time.
