How the Weather Will Impact Teams: Different Perspectives
The Athletic College Football Writers' Views
The Athletic college football writers Seth Emerson (SEC) and Scott Dochterman (Big Ten) had contrasting views when trying to work on a story. Their different outlooks led to a change in format. To better understand each other's perspectives, which largely mirror those of people from their regions, they offered up contrasting back-and-forth segments.For example, on a pleasant mid-November Saturday in the Midwest and Southeast, ESPN's Laura Rutledge's sideline report during the Tennessee-Georgia game brought the weather discussion to the forefront. Rutledge reported that the heaters on the wide receiver portion of the Tennessee bench weren't working while it was a breezy 55 degrees. Incredulous, Fowler replied, "Come on, wait a minute, Laura, 55 degrees?" Rutledge insisted it was chilly and the receivers had been asking for heat. This shows the initial disparity in their views on the impact of weather.
Dochterman has witnessed the misery of southern football players dealing with freezing weather firsthand. In November 2020, with winds howling from the southeast at 12 mph and real-feel temperatures dipping to the high single digits, Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck called a timeout to prevent a shutout against Iowa. Meanwhile, Kirk Ferentz chose pettiness and called three consecutive timeouts to extend the game, while Iowa running back Tyler Goodson shivered on the sideline. Now with the Indianapolis Colts, Goodson said the heated benches saved him. This highlights the challenges southern teams face in cold weather.
Emerson's Perspective on the South's Cold Weather Experience
Emerson argues that the Tennessee story about the heated benches is overblown. He points out that the benches were out for only five minutes and that people in Tennessee are well-acquainted with the cold. He says that there is a perception up north that the South is always warm, but that's not the case. Snowbirds flock to Fort Lauderdale, not Macon or Birmingham. He also shares examples of FCS and Division II teams from the South going north and winning in cold weather.For instance, seven years ago, Kennesaw (Ga.) State flew into a big November snowstorm in Bozeman, Mont. The players started a snowball fight upon landing. Despite the snow and a temperature of 20 degrees at kickoff the next day, Kennesaw State eked out a 16-14 win and clinched a spot in the FCS playoffs. Chris Hatcher, now at Samford, remembers a regular-season game at Delta State (Miss.) in the early 2000s when it was so cold they just called run plays to get home. And Valdosta State lost in the Division II national championship in Muscle Shoals, Ala. despite the cold, showing that the cold doesn't always matter if the team is focused.
Dochterman's View on Southern Teams in the North
Dochterman believes that southern teams can overcome wintry conditions and win games in the North, but there is a difference between living in a cold environment and facing cold temperatures once a week. Northern players are used to the cold, while southern teams must conquer it. Incarnate Word's football team left San Antonio a day early last week to acclimate to the cold in Brookings, S.D. The Cardinals traded mid-60s temperatures for a 17-degree wind chill at kickoff. South Dakota State cornerback Dalys Beanum said Incarnate Word wasn't used to the weather and they embraced it to win 55-14.At Penn State and Ohio State this weekend, the teams will have heated benches, but Tennessee previously panicked when the heaters didn't work. When the heaters started working again, Fowler said, "Thank goodness you can call off the frostbite alert on a 55-degree night." This shows the contrast in how teams handle the cold.
Preparing for the Cold: Tennessee and SMU's Approaches
Tennessee knows about the challenges of cold weather and has quality control people preparing the players. It has been practicing at different times to acclimate to the colder temperatures. SMU, on the other hand, may not be as ready given the average low in Dallas is in the 40s. But if the Mustangs can keep it close, adrenaline can help warm the body up.For example, last week in Knoxville, the lows were in the 17s and 19s. Tennessee has been practicing at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. rather than the warmest part of the day. This shows their efforts to prepare for the cold.
In conclusion, the weather issue in college football playoff games is a significant one. Whether northern or southern teams prevail, these games on campus are here to stay and will continue to be a topic of discussion. It's a battle between different climates and how teams adapt to the cold.