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Richmond Times Dispatch (Virginia)
CHARLOTTESVILLE - Virginia hasn't played a football game at Vanderbilt since 1975. Hurricane Florence is changing that.
U.Va. confirmed Tuesday that its home game Saturday against Ohio is moving to Vanderbilt Stadium, a 40,550-seat on-campus venue in Nashville, Tenn.
The game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
"Our top priority is the safety of everyone involved, and I appreciate the understanding of our fans," Virginia athletics director Carla Williams said in a statement. "We're extremely grateful to Vanderbilt University and vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletics director David Williams for graciously supporting our efforts. We look forward to returning to Scott Stadium for the Louisville game on Sept. 22."
Nashville is about 550 miles from Charlottesville and about 420 miles from Athens, Ohio.
U.Va. is scheduled to take a charter flight to Nashville on Thursday.
Admission to the game will be free.
The forecast calls for heavy rain in Virginia on Saturday but state resources - including state troopers and EMT normally on call at a home football game - would be needed elsewhere in the commonwealth.
With Hurricane Florence threatening college football games all over Virginia and North Carolina this weekend, ACC teams have been scrambling to adjust their schedules.
North Carolina has canceled its game with UCF. North Carolina State canceled its game with West Virginia, though the two schools are still working to find a makeup date. Wake Forest's Thursday night game against Boston College has been moved up to a 5:30 p.m. kickoff.
East Carolina announced Tuesday it would not be traveling to Blacksburg to play No. 13 Virginia Tech on Saturday.
The Cavaliers' last game in Nashville came when quarterback Marques Hagans led them to a Music City Bowl victory over Minnesota, 34-31, in 2005. Hagans is now the team's wide receivers coach.
Ohio already had its open date, not playing last weekend after starting the season with a win over Howard. Virginia's open date is Oct. 6.
Vanderbilt plays at Notre Dame this weekend.
@RTD_MikeBarber
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