Power Outage Causes Chaos at Florida State’s Doak Campbell Stadium

A power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee caused chaos on Monday night. The disruption occurred just before the scheduled ACC game between SMU and Florida State, forcing a delay and sending both teams back to the locker room.

The game, set to start at 7:39 p.m. ET, faced an unexpected power surge. This plunged the stadium into darkness after both teams had taken the field.

The circumstances forced coaching staff and officials into a series of urgent discussions to decide on the next steps.

Despite the challenges, both SMU and FSU chose to proceed with the game. They played without half the stadium’s power. Officials, including ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, met regularly to evaluate the situation.

The atmosphere among fans remained spirited. They engaged in various activities while the Florida State marching band entertained them.

At 8:45 p.m. ET, a decision was made to play the game. Communication systems like helmet-to-helmet and coordinator communications were offline, requiring an old-school approach.

Hand signals were practiced by officials and coaches, with hopes that power would return by the second half.

SMU faced difficulties in rescheduling the game, as they had a matchup with UC Davis the following Saturday. Florida State, meanwhile, had the weekend free. Delaying the game posed logistical problems for SMU’s head coach, Rhett Lashlee, making continuation the preferred choice.

The situation was a critical test for Florida State’s head coach, Mike Norvell, who was under significant pressure entering the season.

Rhett Lashlee expressed concerns about his team’s lack of practice without the usual coach-to-player communication.

The resolution might have been entertaining for spectators, but for both teams, it was a substantial risk. With significant stakes involved, the decision to play amid difficulties highlighted the unpredictability and challenges in college football.