HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) -- Hurricane Ivan could force the postponement of Thursday's football game between Southern Mississippi and California.
Southern Mississippi officials will decide by Tuesday on the Golden Eagles' prime-time nationally televised home opener.
Ivan, which has left at least 68 dead across the Caribbean, headed toward the tip of western Cuba on Monday on a path toward the U.S. gulf coast.
``This was built to be a huge event for us at a very good time -- a lot of momentum, bringing in a top-10 program, national television,'' Southern Miss senior associate athletic director David Hansen said Monday. ``It's disappointing that we've got this, but we can't control the weather and we're not going to have a game in unsafe conditions.''
Coach Jeff Bower said his Golden Eagles are preparing for No. 10 Cal. The game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. CDT.
``One way or the other, Cal's got to have plans, we've got to have plans,'' Bower said. ``We're going about it as if we're going to play on Thursday.''
Possible makeup dates include Saturday or Dec. 4, the only remaining weekend during which neither team has a game scheduled, Hansen said.
Playing on Saturday means Southern Miss would lose $140,000 in TV revenue. ESPN is to broadcast the game but said it could not televise a makeup game Saturday because its lineup is full, Hansen said. Playing on TV in December remains a possibility, but Hansen said ESPN has not promised anything.
``The safety of our fans and the teams that are involved in this game are the No. 1 priority, regardless of the revenue loss that may occur,'' Hansen said.
California is bringing about 200 players, coaches and administrators to Hattiesburg, Hansen said.
``They're not used to hurricanes, and they've got a long ways to come,'' Hansen said. ``We do not want to bring them here and not play a football game. That would put us in a tough situation.''
Southern Mississippi officials will decide by Tuesday on the Golden Eagles' prime-time nationally televised home opener.
Ivan, which has left at least 68 dead across the Caribbean, headed toward the tip of western Cuba on Monday on a path toward the U.S. gulf coast.
``This was built to be a huge event for us at a very good time -- a lot of momentum, bringing in a top-10 program, national television,'' Southern Miss senior associate athletic director David Hansen said Monday. ``It's disappointing that we've got this, but we can't control the weather and we're not going to have a game in unsafe conditions.''
Coach Jeff Bower said his Golden Eagles are preparing for No. 10 Cal. The game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. CDT.
``One way or the other, Cal's got to have plans, we've got to have plans,'' Bower said. ``We're going about it as if we're going to play on Thursday.''
Possible makeup dates include Saturday or Dec. 4, the only remaining weekend during which neither team has a game scheduled, Hansen said.
Playing on Saturday means Southern Miss would lose $140,000 in TV revenue. ESPN is to broadcast the game but said it could not televise a makeup game Saturday because its lineup is full, Hansen said. Playing on TV in December remains a possibility, but Hansen said ESPN has not promised anything.
``The safety of our fans and the teams that are involved in this game are the No. 1 priority, regardless of the revenue loss that may occur,'' Hansen said.
California is bringing about 200 players, coaches and administrators to Hattiesburg, Hansen said.
``They're not used to hurricanes, and they've got a long ways to come,'' Hansen said. ``We do not want to bring them here and not play a football game. That would put us in a tough situation.''
