Updated

Updated · ESPN · Oct 9

Trump Cancels Georgia-Alabama Game Trip as No. 2-6 Showdown Stays on for Saturday

Updated

Updated · ESPN · Oct 9

Trump Cancels Georgia-Alabama Game Trip as No. 2-6 Showdown Stays on for Saturday

Q: With a Category 2 hurricane looming, will the massive Alabama-Georgia game be forced to Sunday, altering the President's plans?

No. As of Wednesday night, Alabama said the Alabama-Georgia game was still set for Saturday evening, and there was no official move to Sunday. Trump’s attendance also remained undecided, tied to the storm’s path and safety concerns. What is clear is that a Sunday shift was a real contingency, not a decision. Alabama athletics said kickoff remained scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday while the school, Georgia, the National Weather Service and the SEC monitored Hurricane Isaias. The SEC would make any final call. Meteorologist James Spann said Sunday night could be the “best choice” if conditions worsened, but he also stressed the heavy logistical complications. Those complications were significant: a top-10 matchup, a full stadium, ESPN’s College GameDay and a presidential visit, all while Alabama was under a state of emergency in dozens of counties. Forecasts suggested Tuscaloosa, though well inland, could still see heavy rain, strong wind gusts, flash flooding and isolated tornadoes from late Friday into Saturday. Trump said he still hoped to attend, saying, “I love Alabama. I gotta go to the game,” but added he would not go if his trip would divert first responders or law enforcement from storm response. So the game was not forced to Sunday at that point. It remained on for Saturday, with Sunday only a possible backup if Hurricane Isaias made conditions unsafe.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Oct 9

Trump said Friday he will skip Saturday night’s Georgia-Alabama game in Tuscaloosa so first responders and law enforcement can focus on Hurricane Isaias rather than presidential security.
The SEC matchup between No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Alabama remained scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff, though forecasters warned of storm surge, damaging winds, flooding and possible tornadoes.
Alabama moved ESPN’s "College GameDay" indoors, cut tailgating hours and banned tents because of high-wind concerns, while Georgia said its travel plans were unchanged.
Other schools also adjusted around the storm, including Florida A&M at Alabama State being moved to Friday morning, underscoring how Gulf Coast weather is disrupting sports plans across the region.