Heat determined to be reason Mizzou moved kickoff time for upcoming game
Euphenie Andre
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou Athletics announced Thursday that Saturday’s football game will be pushed up to noon, instead of the originally scheduled 3 p.m. start.
The school says the change is to avoid the worst of the extreme heat forecast this weekend. After consulting with the National Weather Service, Mizzou decided moving the game earlier would help protect both players and fans.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Jon Carney said temperatures at noon will still be hot but slightly cooler compared to mid-afternoon.
“During that time period, the hourly temperature forecast is 92 at noon, then 95 and 96 versus 97 at 3 p.m., 97 at 4 p.m., and then 96 at 5 p.m. So there is a little difference,” Carney said.
Fans told ABC 17 News they first heard about the change through an email from the university. Others said they were glad about the decision, while some said the change didn’t affect their plans.
“Mizzou was looking out for us and they actually sent out a campus wide reminder. So it’s great,” Ryan Aheran said.
An ABC 17 reporter tested field temperatures with a thermometer, comparing grass to turf similar to the surface the Tigers will play on Saturday. The results showed turf was more than 20 degrees hotter than grass.
Medical experts are warning fans to watch for signs of heat exhaustion.
“Headache would be one of the first signs of dehydration. Also, if you stop sweating, become confused, dizzy, disoriented, or just overall do not feel well,” said Jackie Beshears, who is a nurse practitioner at Boone Convenient Care.
Beshears encouraged fans to prepare ahead of time.
“Some things I would say before the game is making sure that they’re wearing sunscreen, making sure they’re wearing hats, light clothes, hydrating more than they think they need to before the game, and avoiding alcohol,” Beshear said.
Beshears said anyone experiencing those symptoms should seek help right away and get water or ice to cool down. She added that anyone experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion should seek help immediately and cool down with water or ice.
Carney said while conditions will be hot, the heat index isn’t expected to reach dangerous levels.
“Heat index around 105 (degrees) as being dangerous to do strenuous activity with and defiantly 110 is where we start to really get concerned is where we start issuing excessive heat warning at that level,” Carney said.
The new kickoff time, however, did cause some adjustments for the city bus schedule. Columbia spokesperson John Ogan said the revised Saturday schedule will be available Friday morning between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., after being finalized with bus supervisors.