Miami Hurricanes Athletic Personnel Discuss Pre-Irma Decisions

The one common thread that united all of the teams in Florida prior to Irma according to Adelson was.

"“What would best ensure the safety and well-being of their student-athletes, coaches and staff?”"

The discussions on what the Miami Hurricanes Athletic Department was going to do began around 5 AM ET on September 6. Miami Athletic Director Blake James called Assistant AD Jennifer Strawley to ask her if she had seen the most recent advisory on Irma.

At that point, Irma was a Category Five storm over the Caribbean. Irma was producing winds at 185 miles per hour. There was speculation that the eye could pass over South Florida. That would mean a direct hit over Miami. It was expected to be the biggest Hurricane to hit Miami since Andrew in 1992.

The decision to cancel the Arkansas State game was an issue of safety. Many of the parents of the players had called the football offices asking for their children to come home to help them prepare for Irma.

Strawley spoke to Adelson about the decision-making process.

"“There were these two options…Do we get everybody safe in a place where we can mobilize and be together and know all our student-athletes are safe? And then there was this other side: We had student-athletes and staff who were emotional because they had siblings and mothers who couldn’t board up their houses if we didn’t release them.”"

Next: The Decision Making Process for Arkansas State and Florida State