The holiday season is also college bowl season, and 2018’s was one for the record books. Or not, in the case of Boston College and Boise State.
The two teams were slated to meet in the First Responder Bowl in Dallas on Dec. 26, and indeed they did — for about 9 minutes and 52 seconds. That’s when inclement weather rolled into the area. The game was put on hold with 5:08 on the clock in the first quarter, but play never resumed and the game was ultimately canceled and ruled a no-contest.
SB Nation reports that, for statistics and records purposes, it's as if the game never happened. Both teams finish the 2018 campaign with the records they had entering the match up, and no statistics recorded in the nearly 10 minutes of play will count.
“In the interest of safety for our teams and fans, the 2018 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl was unable to be continued,” bowl executive director Brant Ringler said in a release. “The decision was made after lengthy consultation with emergency personnel, both universities, ESPN and Cotton Bowl Stadium staff.”
Obviously, the decision was controversial. Teams and fans had traveled for the game, and the decision to cancel the game was made after a delay of about an hour and 20 minutes.
Both schools said that fans who purchased tickets would be issued refunds.
According to the Idaho Statesman, Boise State could lose more than $25,000 in ticket revenue, as tickets booked through the school would be refunded.
Boston College athletic director Martin Jarmond said on his Twitter feed that in addition to refunds, BC would issue fans free tickets to any home athletic event equal to the number of tickets bought for the canceled bowl game.
To our fans who purchased tickets through BC, you will get a full refund by Jan. 2nd. Also, pick any home athletic event between now and next December and get free tickets for the number of bowl tickets purchased compliments of @BCEagles . Thank you for your support! #WeAreBC
— Martin Jarmond (@MartinJarmond) December 26, 2018
“Unfortunately, we don’t control the weather,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. “As coaches, administrators and fans, you go out there and enjoy the game, but you have to take their safety into consideration… We made a sound decision.”
“This is a first, and I’ve never seen it before,” BC coach Steve Addazio said. “I don’t second guess anything about it. It is a first and it is disappointing, however, the decision was made for the right reasons and that is the welfare of both teams’ players and I totally understand that.”
Oddly enough, it wasn’t the first time in 2018 that a Boston College athletic team struggled with weather in Texas. Earlier in December, the men’s basketball team had to cancel a game at Texas A&M due to travel issues caused by bad weather.
