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Arkansas State threatens to sue Miami over Hurricane Irma cancellation

By The Sports Xchange
Miami Hurricanes head football coach Mark Richt gestures in the second half of the SEC Championship college football game on December 1, 2012 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. File photo by David Tulis/UPI
Miami Hurricanes head football coach Mark Richt gestures in the second half of the SEC Championship college football game on December 1, 2012 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. File photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

Arkansas State and Miami might not be facing off on the field anytime soon, but it looks like they could be meeting in a court of law.

The two were supposed to play last season, but Hurricane Irma wiped out the Sept. 9 game in Jonesboro, Ark. Reportedly, the contract signed in 2013 by the two schools stipulates that if either school cancels the game, they must pay the other $650,000.

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Miami has reportedly offered to reschedule the game sometime between 2024 and 2028, but Arkansas State says those dates won't work and wants the game rescheduled for 2020 or 2021. Miami responded that although they do have open dates during that time, those games must be home games.

Florida was bracing for Irma back in September and decided to cancel the trip to Arkansas, so players could prepare for the Category 5 hurricane, which struck South Florida on Sept. 10.

"It is very unfortunate that we have been unable to resolve this matter, and we remain hopeful this can be worked out without the need for litigation. Ultimately that will be up to the University of Miami," Arkansas State General Counsel Brad Phelps said in a statement.

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In its argument with Miami, Phelps reportedly used a clip of Miami coach Mark Richt telling the South Florida Sun-Sentinel the Hurricanes could have made the trip if they really wanted to.

Arkansas State has demanded an answer by Thursday.

The canceled game was the second part of a two-game series. The first game in the series had been played in Florida in 2014. Miami won that game, 41-20.

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