Several media outlets reported Saturday that Arkansas State has officially filed a lawsuit against the Miami Hurricanes Athletic Department. The suit is over the cancellation of a game between the two because of Hurricane Irma last September.
Arkansas State filed the lawsuit against the Miami Hurricanes because of the cancellation of the scheduled September 9 game in Jonesboro between the teams. The Red Wolves are seeking $650,000 in lost potential earnings that the game would have brought to them.
Arkansas State has stated that they offered Miami multiple alternatives to make the game work. According to the Miami Herald, they offered to pay Miami between $86,000-$88,000 to fly from Miami to Memphis and/or move up the game a day early to Friday night. When that didn’t work Arkansas State offered to reschedule the game for 2020 or ’21.
Miami responded that they had scheduling conflicts and counter offered for 2024 or ’25. It’s been widely reported that the Hurricanes have open dates earlier but are reserving them for games against FCS teams.
Arkansas State’s lawsuit states:
"“This action seeks a judgment finding that UM breached the contract by (1) failing to appear for the September 9, 2017 football game, (2) failing to reschedule the game when its schedule permitted, and (3) failing to pay ASU liquidated damages,”"
Miami Athletic Director Blake James emailed a statement to the Herald on Monday that stated:
"“We believe strongly in our standing and will not comment further as both parties’ attorneys bring this to resolution.”"