BYU/USF Game Goes Into Weather Delay Moments Before Kicking Off
Sep 3, 2022, 2:26 PM | Updated: 4:25 pm
The BYU/USF football game on September 3, 2022 was delayed by weather moments before kickoff. (Mitch Harper, KSL Sports)
(Mitch Harper, KSL Sports)
TAMPA, FL – The BYU/USF game at Raymond James Stadium entered a weather delay moments before kickoff.
[UPDATE]: Kickoff is now set for 4:35 p.m. (MT), two-and-a-half hours after the initial kick time on Saturday.
Kickoff time just announced: 4:35 pm (MT) on ESPNU and @kslnewsradio.#BYUvsUSF #BYU @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 3, 2022
So for fans excited to see the return of BYU football, you have to wait a little bit longer. The delay went into effect with four minutes remaining in the pregame clock.
BYU players and coaches were lined up in the tunnel. Then the weather delay was called.
#BYU vs. USF has entered a weather delay before kicking off. #BYUvsUSF #BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/h6uXewhr8O
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 3, 2022
Immediately after the weather delay, the Raymond James Stadium scoreboard message read, “Please seek shelter inside the club section or covered area of the stadium.”
Fans then went under the concourse or the press box covering.
Earlier in the week, KSL Sports asked BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick if the staff was preparing for the possibility of a weather delay.
“I’ve been through a couple of those before,” said Roderick. “We had one when I was coaching at Utah that was a long one at Michigan. I thought we handled it pretty well. Then we had one here against Utah (in 2019) that we didn’t handle very well, but I think we’ve learned some good lessons from that.”
Weather elements for #BYUvsUSF call for afternoon thunderstorms. #BYU coaches have discussed possible plans in the event of a lightning delay.#BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/HtNYGUOSUt
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 1, 2022
BYU’s last football game, the 2021 Independence Bowl, was slightly delayed due to weather in the pregame, but the players weren’t close to coming out of the tunnel for that game when the delay happened.
The 2013 season was the last time BYU had a season opener delayed by weather. That game was against Virginia and was also a game televised on ESPNU.
We will keep you updated here on KSL Sports with all the latest on when the game will return to action.
You can watch BYU/USF on ESPNU and listen to the game on KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM, KSL NewsRadio app).
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
