A power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium forced Florida State and SMU to delay their Week 1 matchup by approximately two hours on Labor Day. The game was originally scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, but after officials worked to restore electricity, the teams ultimately took the field at 9:15 p.m. ET, though power remained only partially restored throughout the facility.
The incomplete restoration of power meant the contest proceeded without numerous technological conveniences that modern college football has come to rely upon. Teams will operate without helmet communication systems, instant replay capability, a functioning public address announcer, videoboards, or an operational scoreboard clock. Officials will manually track time and use hand signals to communicate game clock information to players and coaches on the sidelines.
Additional systems also remain offline, including referee microphones and full stadium lighting, creating conditions markedly different from contemporary NCAA football standards. Despite these limitations, both teams agreed to proceed with the game rather than postpone it further. Should additional power be restored during the contest, some of these features may become available as the game progresses.
The unusual circumstances create what some observers have compared to football from decades past, offering a rare modern glimpse into how the sport operated before today’s technological infrastructure became standard at major college venues.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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