CORAL GABLES, Fla. _ A little more than two months after a judge ordered Miami and Arkansas State to use a third-party mediator to resolve their dispute over a football game canceled ahead of Hurricane Irma, the two schools have reached a settlement.
A Miami spokesman confirmed the settlement, but declined to give any specifics on the deal. However, in a statement released by Arkansas State, the school said Miami has agreed to pay ASU $400,000 and the cancelled game will not be rescheduled.
"I am pleased that both lawsuits have been resolved and that this matter is now behind us," Arkansas State attorney Brad Phelps said in the statement. "I believe this is a fair resolution of these issues."
Arkansas State originally sued Miami back in February for $650,000 in damages after UM failed to reschedule its Sept. 9, 2017 game in Jonesboro that was canceled ahead of Irma's approach.
That canceled game was part of a two-game contract that had Arkansas State play at Miami in 2014. The Hurricanes won that game, 41-20.
Before filing its lawsuit against Miami earlier this year, Phelps wrote that Arkansas State had "suffered significant disruption and damages" and was seeking compensation under the contract the two schools signed in 2013. He also wrote that Miami's offer to reschedule the game in either 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 or 2028 was "not workable for and would be detrimental to Arkansas State University," which was looking to reschedule the game in either 2020 or 2021.
At the time, Miami athletic director Blake James said, "I am aware of Arkansas State's position on this matter. We believe strongly in our standing and will not comment further as both parties' attorneys bring this to resolution."
Miami's football game at Arkansas State wasn't the only Hurricanes athletic event affected by Irma.
The school's volleyball team did not travel for two matches in Philadelphia as part of the Cherry and White Challenge, while two women's soccer matches and a cross country meet at Miami that week were also canceled. Miami's football game against ACC rival Florida State was also pushed from Sept. 16 to Oct. 7 and classes did not resume in Coral Gables until Sept. 25.
