The Bucs And Hurricane Irma
September 5th, 2017
Forecast track of Hurricane Irma as of 11 a.m. Tuesday. (Graphic courtesy of NOAA.gov.)
Joe has to admit, he’s on pins and needles now.
Yes, long-time residents of Florida know a hurricane path can change drastically in a matter or two or three days. But with every update of the forecast path of Hurricane Irma, it more and more looks like South Florida is certainly going to get hit, perhaps not by a direct hit, but certainly be in for a mess of a storm this weekend.
As shown from the WTVT-TV Channel 13 graphic above, the forecast has the storm hitting or passing South Florida on Saturday.
Maybe if the storm stays south enough, the Bucs-Dolphins games would get moved to a Sunday night?
That happened in 2004, when a tropical storm was barreling across Florida and the NFL pushed the kickoff of a game against the Steelers (Ben Roethlisberger’s first NFL start) to a Sunday night game to allow the tropical rains to mostly pass through. The game was still played mostly in a deluge.
As Joe wrote last night, the football side of the Dolphins organization is proceeding as if the game would be played Friday.
Joe has a hunch the NFL does not want to dilute opening night, Thursday, with a second game. There is also the possibility that the Bucs and Dolphins, which both have the same bye week, could flip to using this weekend as a bye and play the game later on Nov. 17.
Yesterday when winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter was asked for his reaction to that maneuver, he snapped, “What do you think?” If the Bucs-Dolphins game was moved to Nov. 17, both the Bucs and the Dolphins, essentially, would not have a bye week and instead play 16 straight games.
Theoretically, Saturday at Joe Robbie Stadium could be an option as the Miami Hurricanes are playing on the road. They also use Joe Robbie as a home field. But Saturday would likely be cutting it too close as the storm nears.
Joe is going to guess there should be some word coming out of Miami or New York tomorrow on the status of the game.
September 5th, 2017 at 5:10 am
Or…they could just move the game to Tampa.
September 5th, 2017 at 5:14 am
It’s too bad we don’t have a stadium in Bradenton. The storms NEVER hit us directly.
Anyway, my guess is that the storm will turn north before it hits florida. Miami might get the outskirts.
It is supposed to be a powerful storm though.
September 5th, 2017 at 5:16 am
I can’t see any logic in taking a risk to push the game BACK to Sunday night from 1pm any more than they’d push it back to Monday night per the discussion in the original article on the topic and comments by Carlos and Eric regarding Monday. (https://www.joebucsfan.com/2017/09/buccaneers-hurricane-irma-update/). Pushing it back even to Sunday night means if the storm slows down at all we’d be back to the same problems addressed in the previous articles and comments, even if it stays more south. So I’d bet Friday is still a best option.
September 5th, 2017 at 5:43 am
I’m not against Friday. It gives us a prime time game. However, I don’t see it happening. The nfl usually waits until the day before to make a decision on these things.
As I said in the other article though…just move it to Tampa if the storm hits Miami. Yes, we gain a home game and they lose a home game but let’s be honest….they are going to lose that game either way
September 5th, 2017 at 5:44 am
Oh, and switching it to the bye week won’t happen, joe
Dolphins play in london and they need that bye week for the trip.
September 5th, 2017 at 5:59 am
If Hurricane Irma stays a CAT 4 or 5 and takes a path anywhere close to that shown in your graphic Joe, what happens to the Bucs-Dolphins game will be the least of anyone’s concerns. This could get real ugly real fast.
September 5th, 2017 at 6:06 am
Go win it Bucs!!!!! Taters will take great care of Tampa. Me and Arthur got Old Port Richey. Where’s Realist at?
September 5th, 2017 at 6:13 am
Bonsai. My guess is it gives Houston another scare then fizzles to the west.
September 5th, 2017 at 6:17 am
Move the game out of state to a neutral site. Florida residents need to concentrate on preparing for this major storm, and a Friday night football game is a distraction that South Florida citizens don’t need right now.
My suggestion…..crazy as it might seem is this….move the game to Sunday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. The Falcons are on the road week 1, and the only other event scheduled for next weekend at MBS is an Atlanta United Soccer game Saturday afternoon, giving the grounds crew enough time to prep the field for football afterwards. MBS just got done hosting 3 football games in 5 days (Falcons v. Jaguars Thursday, Alabama v. Fl. State Saturday, and GA. Tech v. Tennessee yesterday), so they are capable of quick turn arounds. Atlanta is far enough away that the storm shouldn’t affect it much, and it’s a dome (retractable roof) so weather won’t be a factor at all.
Plus Atlanta is a big enough city for a lot of Florida residents to ride out the storm in. I know it probably won’t happen…..but, it would make some sense.
September 5th, 2017 at 6:19 am
It’s ok Joe, I’m a 5th generation Floridian, I’ll hold your hand little buddy.
Also the current models have shifted back to where the hurricane is hitting almost dead center of the state then hugging the west coast – but inland, in that case sure we’d lose power and stuff but there would be no massive water damage, little major wind damage extra, the biggest issue would be falling trees taking out electrical wires.
That’s the current forecast – but it WILL change, it always does.
September 5th, 2017 at 6:24 am
It’s the weather they have no clue where it’s going!
September 5th, 2017 at 6:25 am
Good idea 99
September 5th, 2017 at 6:42 am
The last hurricane to hit Tampa was in October 1921, or 97 years ago.
Let’s look at those numbers. 1921, let’s make that 19-21 = -2.
Now 97…. 9+7 = 16.
16 – 2 = 14
Ryan Fitzpatrick’s number is 14!!!!
Everywhere Fitz goes something strange happens to QBs starting in front of him!!!
It’s a trap!!!
September 5th, 2017 at 6:44 am
Doubt the game would be moved to Thursday if a decision were made tomorrow–one day to prepare–not likely. They need to make a decision today. Even if it misses Miami by 100+ miles, the winds will still be out of control for a decent football game. Friday would work, not only to beat the weather but to give the players time to prepare their personal lives for a possible impact. The 16 straight game option is one that would be vetoed by the NFLPA and both organizations. The bye week is essential to recharge batteries and heal injuries. So goes my thoughts–which, of course, are meaningless when it comes to the logic of King Roger and his minions.
September 5th, 2017 at 6:51 am
Cmon bonzai. Tampa is very close to miami. Miami gets nailed tampa prob will get hit with alot. Plus miami isnt giving up a home game, too precious. I bet it is on fri night, as they are gona prob make a decision today. But yeah it could be much about nothing, but we know they gota play it safe. I hope it doesnt hit houston tho. Could get some early football. Not sure how much that would be a disadvantage to the bucs tho. Luckily its a short ways away. Huuuuuuuge game. Go Bucs
September 5th, 2017 at 6:57 am
Guys… I’m a LONG way away from Tampa now.. 3000 or so miles. The path for the day after the one above bothers me. The Spaghetti models have the storm taking a due North turn immediately after this. The problem with Friday is that a storm of this magnitude, the last thing you need/want is a football game to get in the way of preparations. Water and supplies are already being diverted. Make sure your chainsaws, generators and beer fridge are in good working order and stocked in case you live inland enough to ride this one out. Fill your cars with fuel. Bath tubs with water. If you have a boat, charge up all of the batteries. Most boats have at least 3. From experience. A good deep cycle 12V battery and a simple inverter can power a small fan for 2-3 nights on low. Its amazing how comforting a single electric light can be during a power outage. Make sure your propane tanks are full. Just use common sense and get ready.
I know we live and die with the Bucs around here but keep your eyes on the ball here guys.
September 5th, 2017 at 7:08 am
What tnew said . . . it’s no joke
September 5th, 2017 at 7:18 am
Move it to Cowboys stadium please!!
September 5th, 2017 at 7:38 am
First, it’s a hurricane. Not a huge deal. Not for Florida. Property damage maybe, but we are used to this. I imagine ost of the panicking is from out of state people, people who have not been in Florida long, or people who are easily manipulated by a media that loves this stuff for ratings.
I myself have been through this more times than I can count. Shoot, I surfed during a hurricane once (which was dumb but I was a young risk taker).
Can there be loss of life? Yes, but in most cases it is preventable. No need to panick. We’re smart enough to build above sea level.
Miami gets hit more than Tampa. So there is soe reason for concern, but they are ready too.
The most silly thing is to say a football game would interfere with preparations. It won’t for anyone except maybe the team players and staff, but you can bet they are planning ahead. That’s what we do in Florida.
The storm won’t come inland and cross the south of the stat either except maybe the keys if it doesn’t turn north. And if it starts to turn north before hitting Miami, it will probably move off the coast again. Maybe do a loop, maybe not.
Not a huge deal. This is just summer for Floridians.
September 5th, 2017 at 7:40 am
Looks like NO is in more danger.
September 5th, 2017 at 7:42 am
It seems like Friday is the best option and one in which the Dolphins are leading to. It would not be a bad thing because if it is on Friday, both teams have had 6ish days of prep time available. Tnew is on point. I am in Fayetteville NC and spent yesterday servicing my generator. This doesn’t seem like the storm to screw with. @ Tnew, where do you live man?
September 5th, 2017 at 7:44 am
@ Those west coast canes are a beautiful thing for the east coast surfers. Charlie pushed up 9 foot faces the day before it hit. I was a blast! Can’t wait to get out the Army and hit those waves again.
September 5th, 2017 at 7:49 am
Start the year with some “Thursday Night Football”!…there I made it all simple for you !!
September 5th, 2017 at 7:58 am
@Rod you forgot about Hurricane Donna in 1960…that was a bad one.
September 5th, 2017 at 8:08 am
I’m down here in naples and this thing has got me worried. I’ve been through plenty of hurricanes but this one makes me worry. I’ll speak softly and carry that big mother fkn stick.
September 5th, 2017 at 8:10 am
@buc it
I look for you on youtube swinging the stick at the wind.
September 5th, 2017 at 8:12 am
With a name like Irma, you know it’s going to be a bitch. Stay safe everyone.
September 5th, 2017 at 8:14 am
Thank you for calling it “Joe Robbie Stadium”
September 5th, 2017 at 8:23 am
@JabooBuc No doubt hahahaha
September 5th, 2017 at 8:49 am
It’s a Cat 5 now too.
WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!
September 5th, 2017 at 9:12 am
Hurricane’s are HUGE deals. Especially Cat 5 storms. You can’t just hop on down to the Wal-Mart get your 24 pack of Zephyrhills and hope for the best. Had Charlie not jogged in just as it did, it would have been an entirely different story for Tampa. As it was, several of my good friends had lives really messed up from that storm. For that summer, I went just over three weeks without power. I was young enough to volunteer a ton of time to help people worse off than I was and it was a far, far ways from great. It has been a while since one really got us. One will get you if you live on the coast long enough. Gamble and hope it doesn’t or prepare and celebrate if it doesn’t, but when it does hit, without preparation, you are depending on those that did to help you. I HOPE, this storm makes a severe northerly turn early and skates off into the Atlantic, but if it gets in the Gulf, someone is screwed. Those of you new to Florida, or new to Hurricane’s its not a party. I had friends that would move to the state and actually hoped that a hurricane would hit us so that they could experience it. No thank you.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:17 am
@Buccaneer Bonzai Because Hurricanes are sooooo predictable.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:19 am
@tnew you new to Florida bro? It’s a case of Natty light and 2 candles. That’s how we prep in Florida bro.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:23 am
Move it out of state now! Don’t give anyone an excuse for wanting to stay in the potential path of a very nasty storm! There may be widespread evacuations going on in the next few days, a football game is a needless distraction.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:28 am
This situation is not as simple as moving the game to Tampa. Even though this is an “act of God” the NFL, the Dolphins owners, or their fans don’t want to lose another home game. They lost one this season because of London. Sure, *I* don’t care if Miami loses a game but millions of other people do. I think it makes more sense to have this a Thursday night or Friday night game.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:40 am
The wind field on this storm is huge. Miami will feel effects of the storm on Saturday no matter what path it takes. There is no way they can play this game on Saturday or Sunday.
September 5th, 2017 at 9:44 am
I love my Bucs and my football, but right now Im more concerned with my house, famiky and friends. Its too early to know for sure whats going to happen, but if it stays on the projexted path, tampa is screwed. Getting ready to evac later this week, everyone stay safe and dont underestimate this thing
September 5th, 2017 at 10:04 am
Guys, with a cat 5-6 hurricane potentially heading towards Miami, I don’t think the NFL will try to squeeze in a game just in the nick of time. My guess is that if the forecast doesn’t change soon, the game will be delayed or moved to an inland location in an NFL city that has an away game the Sunday.
September 5th, 2017 at 10:06 am
I myself have been through this more times than I can count. Shoot, I surfed during a hurricane once (which was dumb but I was a young risk taker).
………….
Amen Bonzai. I surfed almost Every hurricane when I was living down there. Heck I surfed Hugo all the way from Reef Road in Palm Beach to Virginia Bch for three days
September 5th, 2017 at 10:07 am
TNEW….Agree…..Bonzai…wish I could agree.
I gotta be honest. I’m sitting up here safe on Lake Superior but I’m really getting uptight. Sorry to be so selfish but I can’t get too excited about when we finally get to play the Dolphins.
I’m worried about Tampa/St. Pete looking like Houston!!!
There is a high pressure in the Atlantic apparently preventing this storm from turning north. If it gets through the islands and clears the straits as a Cat 5 we should all be scared spitless.
Then we have to hope that high pressure keeps the storm from doing a right hook right into us!!!! Remember Charley. Tampa/St. Pete got REALLY lucky that the storm hit farther south.
I live in the Allendale section of St. Pete…high and dry….but St. Pete for sure and large swaths of Tampa face a real risk. I used to be on the St. Pete Planning Commission and the most frightening meeting I ever attended was about the contigency plans if a Cat 5 roared right up the bay. There are parts of places like Shore Acres that would be literally washed away…not just flooded…plans include the litigation of trying to determine the new property lines.
This is far more than just a football game now. If this sucker hooks up the Bay we’ll make Houston look like small potatoes.
September 5th, 2017 at 10:14 am
“I” storms are always a Bitch, Ivan, Irene, Ike, Izzabelle and now Irma.
September 5th, 2017 at 10:26 am
Moving the game to another stadium may be difficult at this point, logistically. And the Dolphins would lose yet another home game. They already lost one to London.
September 5th, 2017 at 2:17 pm
Buc50 – Hurricane Donna made landfall near Naples actually and Tampa got the west side (weak side) of the storm as it came up the state, but was well inland (near Lakeland). It’s the last hurricane in which Tampa received something like hurricane winds – but it wasn’t even all that close to a direct hit. The last direct hit to the Tampa bay region (meaning Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Sarasota) was that 1921 cat 3 storm that hit in Tarpon, nearly a worse case scenario by today’s standards. The last major hurricane to directly affect the Tampa area was 1985 with Hurricane Elena that spent like 3 days in the gulf doing donuts and caused two separate evacuations, including the then largest of all time. From Elena we got a ton of rain and some houses out directly on the gulf got washed out to sea, but that was it.
1985 Hurricane Elena track…
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/pages/12300/f12345/f12345.jpg
1960 Hurricane Donna track…
https://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/pages/12300/f12340/f12340.jpg
September 5th, 2017 at 2:30 pm
Only lived there for 30 years, bro. Should’ve drafted….. you’re THAT GUY. The one that others have to take care of when the storm actually hits.
September 5th, 2017 at 2:33 pm
What’s funny, I’d still share my water, my food and my power with you. But you can’t touch my beer. There has to be a line.
September 5th, 2017 at 3:37 pm
Any one that is in the potential path and is not taking this storm seriously is a fool!