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Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
Sport
Edgar Thompson

Florida, LSU rescheduled for Nov. 19 in Baton Rouge

The Florida-LSU game has been rescheduled for Nov. 19 in Baton Rouge, the SEC announced.

The decision creates a brutal November slate of games for the Gators while costing the school two home games in 2016 projected to yield 7.8 million in ticket-related revenue, a UF spokesperson told the Orlando Sentinel.

In return LSU will visit Gainesville during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Hurricane Matthew postponed last Saturday's visit from LSU and created some tense feelings between the longstanding rivals.

On Monday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he spoke with the school's presidents and athletics directors in an effort to find common ground and reschedule the game.

"It was important for us to come to a resolution," SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. "Each university had its own set of concerns throughout this process, however existing SEC regulations did not provide an avenue to resolve conflicting issues in a more timely manner. As I have repeatedly said, this game needed to be played.

"In the end, I want to give credit to the University of Florida for making concessions to move this year's game to Baton Rouge."

UF athletics director Jeremy Foley released a statement.

"We made this decision to play the game in Baton Rouge," Foley said. "The conference office asked us to find a solution in working with LSU, yet LSU was never a true partner in our discussions. The Southeastern Conference offered some other solutions and the LSU administration made it clear that they were unwilling to consider other reasonable options."

UF coach Jim McElwain added, "As I've said all along _ we will play anyone, anywhere, anytime. I think I've made that pretty clear. The Gators never run from anyone or dodge anyone."

The decision forces UF to end the regular season with three of four road games _ at Arkansas Nov. 5, at LSU Nov. 19 and at Florida State Nov. 26.

Presbyterian athletic director Brian Reese told Pete Yanity, sports director at WSPA-TV in Greenville, S.C., the Gators decided to make up the postponed game with LSU and cancel the Presbyterian's Nov. 19 visit to the Swamp.

UF will pay Presbyterian its $500,000 game guarantee. Reese said the school hopes to play Nov. 19 against South Alabama, LSU's scheduled opponent.

Foley thanked Presbyterian for working with the Gators.

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