Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Ida forces venue change in Tulane game

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - APRIL 24: Offensive lineman Ian McIver #61, offensive lineman Robert Congel #66, and offensive lineman Aaryn Parks #55 of the Oklahoma Sooners run paces after the team's spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on April 24, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - APRIL 24: Offensive lineman Ian McIver #61, offensive lineman Robert Congel #66, and offensive lineman Aaryn Parks #55 of the Oklahoma Sooners run paces after the team's spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on April 24, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Hurricane Ida’s destructive path through New Orleans and the state of Louisiana has forced a change in the scheduled Oklahoma football game with Tulane.

The Sooners scheduled game Saturday at Tulane, which is located in New Orleans, is being moved to Norman, at the same time: 11 a.m. CT. The official announcement came from OU late Monday afternoon. The game will be broadcast on ABC.

The story broke earlier on Monday when multiple sources, including ESPN senior writer Adam Rittenberg, were reporting that the game was going to be played as scheduled, but at OU instead on in New Orleans.

Athletic director Joe Castiglione issued a statement on Friday stating that the two schools had been in close contact regarding contingency plans should the game have to be moved or rescheduled.

It is believed that moving the game to Norman has always been the primary option instead of trying to reschedule for a later date.

"“I know that many of our fans were looking forward to visiting one of our favorite cities, New Orleans,” said OU president Joseph Harroz Jr. in a statement issued by the OU athletic department.“We regret that it’s necessary for us to host (the game),” he said…”but now we have an opportunity to do what we do best, and that is to extend our hospitality to people who are facing a significant challenge.”"

Due to the short notice and the holiday weekend, Castiglione said that several of Oklahoma’s game services providers won’t be able to assemble a full staff for this game. As a result, only the lower bowl at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (including club level, loge boxes and suites) will be utilized as seating for the game.

The Sooners were originally scheduled to play Tulane on campus in New Orleans at Yulman Stadium on Saturday. A shelter-in-place order for the Tulane campus remained in effect on Monday as the process of damage assessment and recovery was under way.

Multiple sources have also reported that the Tulane football team has temporarily relocated activities to Birmingham, Alabama for the week in preparation for the game on Saturday. LSU has done something similar in moving its football activities to Houston, Texas.

The Sooners begin the 2021 season as the No. 2-ranked team in the Associated Press Preseason Top-25. Oklahoma will now play four straight home games before its first away game of the season: the annual Red River rivalry game against Texas in Dallas.

Saturday’s game is the second in what was supposed to be a two-game, home-and-home series with Tulane. The first game was played in Norman in 2017 with OU winning 56-14.

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