RALEIGH, N.C. _ N.C. State has made the decision not to play its home football game Saturday against West Virginia because of the pending threat of Hurricane Florence.
It is not known if the game will be canceled or rescheduled later this season.
The Wolfpack hosted Notre Dame in 2016 at Carter-Finley Stadium in a game played in a windy rainstorm caused by Hurricane Matthew. More than eight inches of rain fell on the playing field at Carter-Finley Stadium during the game as the Pack won 10-3.
The weather forecasts for Saturday are for more severe conditions should Hurricane Florence maintain its projected course. Hurricane Florence is projected to hit the North Carolina coastline this week as a Category 4 storm.
The game Saturday was to be a matchup featuring two of the nation's best college quarterbacks _ the Pack's Ryan Finley and West Virginia's Will Grier, a Heisman Trophy hopeful.
Before the announcement was made, Wolfpack junior safety Jarius Morehead was asked his reaction if the game were to be canceled or postponed.
"This is a game we've been looking forward to," Morehead said. "It's like a 'money' game. I'd be upset if we don't get to play it."
N.C. State, in a release, said it worked in conjunction with West Virginia University officials, the Atlantic Coast Conference and emergency management personnel in making the decision. The move not to play the game, NCSU said, was "in the best interests of the safety and well-being of fans, student-athletes and all parties involved."
It's believed to be the first N.C. State home football game that has been called off because of threatening weather. The 2001 game against Ohio University was postponed and rescheduled at the end of the regular season because of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
NCSU announced that if the West Virginia game is rescheduled or a replacement home game scheduled, tickets for the West Virginia game will be valid. If not, refunds will be offered to season ticket-holders.
