The University of Idaho and University of Florida agreed to not reschedule the football game cancelled last weekend in Gainesville, Florida, due to poor weather and unsafe field conditions.
Florida has agreed to fulfill the original contract set in 2008 and will still pay the $975,000 it promised Idaho by Feb. 1.
After the game was cancelled, Idaho left The Swamp with its future unknown. Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear and Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley decided it was best to not reschedule the game this season.
“We looked at a number of options,” Foley said. “And in the end, we both thought it was in the best interest of our student-athletes and football programs to play out the remainder of our respective schedules as they stand.”
All fans who bought tickets through the Gator Ticket Office received a full refund. Those who purchased tickets through the Vandal Ticket Office can get a refund by emailing [email protected].
The two schools agreed to play in 2017 on a new contract. Spear said the final dollar amount is yet to be determined, but expects the contract to be the same, if not more than this year’s $975,000.
“I want to thank UF, especially AD Jeremy Foley, for the professional and first-class way they worked though this issue and the focus on student-athlete welfare,” Spear said. “It was not in our best interest to play 10 consecutive weeks without a bye week. We look forward to our return to Florida in 2017.”
Idaho intends to play its first game at 4 p.m. Saturday at Louisiana-Monroe. The weather forecast calls for thunder and lightning storms.
Korbin McDonald can be reached at [email protected]