A power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium disrupted the college football game between SMU and Florida State University (FSU) on Labor Day night. The outage caused chaos minutes before the scheduled kickoff, with stadium lights failing and sending both teams back to their locker rooms.
The game was set to begin at 7:39 p.m. ET, but a power surge plunged the venue into darkness just as SMU and FSU took the field. Despite the setback, both teams opted to proceed with the game, even as half the stadium remained without power.
The lack of electrical power presented challenges beyond darkness. Officials announced the absence of official replay capabilities, which would impact decision-making during the game. Head Coach Mike Norvell of FSU and SMU’s Head Coach Rhett Lashlee agreed to forge ahead under these unusual circumstances.
Florida State’s and SMU’s determination to play involved meeting with ACC commissioner Jim Phillips every twenty minutes to discuss if the game could continue. Prize goes to loyal fans who stayed through the confusion, entertained by games in the stands and attempts by the FSU marching band to keep spirits high.
By 8:45 ET, officials decided to continue the game without standard communications, such as helmet-to-helmet devices, coordinator communications, or devices along the sideline. Both teams had to resort to old-school hand signals throughout the match.
The absence of normal communication tools led to coaches frantically practicing hand signals. Stadium officials hoped power would be restored by the second half, but communication challenges persisted. Reports indicated SMU would face difficulties playing the game the following day due to their upcoming match against UC Davis.
Both teams understood the importance of the game’s outcome. Coach Norvell faced pressure due to his current standing with FSU, and Lashlee’s Mustangs hadn’t practiced without coach-to-player communication in over two years.
Despite technical issues, the game pressed forward without delaying until Tuesday, which would have posed logistical challenges, particularly for SMU, given their scheduled match on Saturday.
While fans may have enjoyed the drama and nostalgia of an old-school experience, the decision to continue playing without typical communication tools was a gamble for both teams and their coaches.
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