Servpro First Responder Bowl Canceled Due to Severe Weather
The Servpro First Responder Bowl game between Boise State and Boston College was canceled Wednesday afternoon due to severe weather.
The game has been ruled a no contest after weather issues halted the game, bowl organizers announced Wednesday. The National Weather Service declared that a tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m. CT for at least 34 counties in North and Central Texas.
Boston College held an early 7–0 lead over Boise State thanks to running back AJ Dillon's 19-yard touchdown run. With 5:08 left on the clock in the first quarter, the game was delayed after severe weather hit the Dallas area. With every lightning strike that came within eight miles of the Cotton Bowl, the host stadium, a 30-minute delay was added to the clock.
First Responder Bowl Executive Director Brant Ringler released a statement saying there was no intention to move the game, despite knowing a chance of inclement weather was in the forecast.
"We knew there was a chance of inclement weather [for this] game," Ringler said in the statement, per Scott Bell of the Dallas Morning News. "There were no intentions to move the game. Usually the weather plays out to play the game...We had to make that decision and now we just have to move forward."
Boston College Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond tweeted that fans who purchased their tickets to the bowl game through the university will receive a refund by Jan. 2.
Wednesday's decision to end the First Responder Bowl makes it the first bowl game to be canceled in FBS history. Of course Twitter had a few jokes to crack about the cancelation of the game.
The Servpro First Responder Bowl has been played at the Cotton Bowl every year since 2011. It was switched sponsorships three times, from the TicketCity Bowl to the Heart of Dallas Bowl presented by PlainsCapital Bank to the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl.
