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12:41: You are looking live at the scoreboard in the south end zone at Mountaineer Field. It projects exciting things for today’s season-opener. Just a reminder: Texts from Game Day is back in business. If you’re not familiar, get familiar.
12:50: WVU people are saying they expect the weather to hit around 6 p.m. We’ll definitely still be playing and you know Dana Holgorsen’s offense is going to extend the game longer than normal. Per the NCAA rules, if there’s lightning within eight miles, they stadium must be evacuated.
12:54: Game captains: Keith Tandy, Geno Smith, Najee Goode and Don Barclay. Shawne Alston and Trey Johnson are both out. Alston is still bothered by that neck injury and Johnson has been slowed recently by a left knee, I’ve heard. Brad Starks is good to go.
12:59: True freshmen in uniform: RB Vernard Roberts, RB Andrew Buie, QB Paul Millard, CB Avery Williams, RB Dustin Garrison, LB Jared Barber, S Nick Kwiatkoski, S Shaq Petteway, IR Connor Arlia, OL Cody Clay, DE Kyle Rose and DL Bem Tomasek.
1:17 pm: The Mountaineer Mantrip happened. As you can see, thousands of people lined up to watch. Lasted about 10 minutes.
And now they party. Stadium speakers were blaring “I’m a Boss.” Jack Bogaczyk knew all the words, by the way.
1:37 pm: This was the best part. Dana Holgorsen arrived with eight state troopers. Eight! And the man wore a suit.
… though not for long.
6:17: More form the concourse area. People being held there are being told another storm will roll through in 15 minutes.
6:55: We keep resetting the 30-minute clock here and it appears there’s a larger storm on the way. Rain is back, lightning hasn’t gone away at all. In case you’re wondering, the ADs and the game officials have to work together to make any type of decision.
7:58: We were set to re-start at 8:05. At 7:55 the players were pulled off the field again and the fans were sent for shelter again. Another mandatory 30-minute delay that begins after the last lightning streak in the area.
8:28: ADs and coaches are meeting and talking this thing over right now, with the obvious point being there is more rain and lightning coming and they need to convince Marshall and Doc Holiday to let this go, I would think. You don’t need this conference if you’re going to wait out the storms, right? No chance Marshall agrees to come back tomorrow morning. It’s a short week already and while WVU plays Norfolk State Saturday, Marshall plays Southern Miss. No way the Herd gives up another day. There’s no other date they couldplay this on in the future, either. And again, there is more weather coming. I think this is just about over.
8:31: Serious question: What if Tavon Austin got tackled on his kickoff return? How different is this discussion between the ADs and coaches?
8:37: Players are back on the field. Shooting for an 8:50 start. I’d have to think they parties said something like, “OK, one more shot and if we come off the field again, that’s it.”
8:42: Andrew Buie, who got lit up a couple of hours ago, is out for the rest of the game. His upper extremity was injured.
9:30: Clearly, Doc Holliday saw the Friday Night Lights episode when Eric Taylor begged out of the second half of his first game at East Dillon and nearly lost his locker room. In all seriousness, it’s a brutal decision to have to make.
9:46: The fact we’re still sitting here waiting on the weather leads me to believe we’re playing.
9:51: Some kid was just out on the field. Security got him, but let him stay because apparently no one is being made to go home tonight.
9:58: Apparently state police are saying someone was struck by lightning. This is news here. WVU can’t confirm anything, but had better get on top of that fast. If true — and, boy, if it happened during the second delay, or this one — then this needs to end. Now.
10:05: WVU is saying the report is not true and EMS hasn’t responded to or treated anyone for a lightning strike.