Oklahoma football releases statement on status of Tulane road game

With Hurricane Ida rapidly approaching the Gulf Coast, Oklahoma football released a statement regarding its season opening game against Tulane. The matchup is slated for 11 a.m. CST on Sept. 4 in New Orleans. As of now, it is still on pace to be played as scheduled. Below is the full statement from Sooners athletic director Joe Castiglione:

“As the National Weather Service tracks tropical storm and hurricane activity in the Atlantic and Gulf Regions, and as predictive models are updated, we have received many inquiries from fans planning to follow the Sooners to New Orleans next week when we open the 2021 football season at Tulane University,” Castiglione said. “In the spirit of proactive planning and communication, I have been in regular contact with Tulane Athletics Director Troy Dannen for the past month. In the past few days, we have stayed in even closer contact as we continue to monitor the development of Hurricane Ida, which is currently forecasted to arrive along the Gulf Coast this weekend.

“First and foremost, our concern is with any and all those in the path of the storm. We are praying for everyone’s safety. At this time, the game slated for Saturday, September 4, is still on as planned. However, both universities are considering contingencies should post-storm conditions warrant.

“It is too early to speculate, but we will continue to monitor the situation and be prepared to take necessary actions as appropriate. Again, our concern rests with our friends at Tulane and all of those who could be impacted by the hurricane. Please follow OU Athletics online accounts for updates.”

Hurricane Ida has already begun to impact other sporting events in the New Orleans area. The Saints announced Friday they would cancel their preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals scheduled for Sunday. The team is also evacuating to the Dallas area.

New Orleans is no stranger to disaster after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. Whether the game between Oklahoma and Tulane is played or not, hopefully, the city can find a way to stay safe.