Hurricane Helene has had a devastating impact on Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and beyond. One of the most notable sports impacts there comes from the Appalachian State Mountaineers, in Boone, N.C., cancelling their planned Saturday game hosting the Liberty Flames:
The Liberty game scheduled for tomorrow is canceled due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
Please be safe, #AppNation.https://t.co/7JPHe7aRPh
— App State Football (@AppState_FB) September 27, 2024
There are many good reasons for that cancellation, given the photos of the situation in App State’s hometown of Boone, N.C.:
Absolutely heartbreaking footage from my college town of Boone, NC.
It’s so tough to see a place you know so well and love so much get devastated like this.
Worst flooding since at least 1940, per @wxbrad.
Praying hard for my Boone people.
Video courtesy of @NelsonAerials. pic.twitter.com/xEr5bGExFz
— Andrew Gibson (@1010XLAG) September 27, 2024
To all the Liberty fans and players saying we are scared to play or a ducking them, the first picture is the main road to get in and out of Boone, the other is river street, the road our stadium is on. pic.twitter.com/slqwuRCVwI
— App State Meme Guy (@miss_the_mtns) September 27, 2024
Life-Threatening Major flooding and debris flow in Boone.
Video is from my friend Aidan Haas at App State @spann @JimCantore #ncwx #Helene pic.twitter.com/ybWFEmZPYg
— Ethan Clark wx (@EthanClarkWX) September 27, 2024
The State Farm lot many @appstate students park in is under water. pic.twitter.com/k0lMXFuzrV
— AWN – Appalachian Weekly News (@AppWeeklyNews) September 27, 2024
App State is experiencing flooding on parts of their campus. Students say their power is flickering and many are out facing the weather to look for food. pic.twitter.com/CFJvqsLVpg
— Sydney McCoy (@SydneyMcCoynews) September 27, 2024
And this is just part of the overall Hurricane Helene impacts. But this cancellation, (of a game set for ESPN+, and one which is not expected to be made up), could have major potential impacts on this year’s College Football Playoff. The Sun Belt’s Mountaineers were widely seen as the toughest test on the Flames’ schedule, which is largely made up of Conference USA opponents beyond that. If they win out, there will be a lot of questions on their strength of schedule.
And, beyond that, the loss of this game leaves Liberty with just 11 scheduled. That’s led to athletic director Ian McCaw saying they’re searching for a 12th game:
An update to our web story is live with a statement from Liberty AD Ian McCaw.
“Liberty will continue to pursue a 12th football game this season should an opponent and mutual date become available,” McCaw said. https://t.co/NC7nL03X72
— Bryson Gordon (@BrysonGordon) September 27, 2024
We’ll see if the Flames can land that. If they do, and if they win there, and if they win the rest of their games, that will certainly make their case for a CFP slot worth more discussion. But this is certainly a blow to their plans. But it’s quite understandable given the devastation in Boone from this hurricane.
[Andrew Gibson on X/Twitter]
