Connecticut officials taking precautions due to recent EEE concerns
TAMPA, SEPT. 29, 2019 – The USF football team’s game Saturday at the University of Connecticut has been moved up to a noon kickoff in East Hartford, Conn., as a precautionary measure due to a recent mosquito-borne virus.
The change in kickoff for the game, previously scheduled for 7 p.m., was announced by UConn and the American Athletic Conference Sunday morning. Broadcast arrangements for the contest are still being determined and will be announced at a later time.
UConn moved Saturday’s kickoff at Pratt & Whitney Stadium to noon as a safety precaution after receiving guidance from the Connecticut Department of Public Health as it relates to the mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus.
“We understand and appreciate Connecticut officials taking steps in order to provide the safest environment possible for the student-athletes, coaches and fans at Saturday’s game,” USF Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly said. “We have been in communication with UConn and conference officials over the past several days and are confident they are taking the appropriate steps in moving the kickoff up and playing the game during daylight hours.”
Mosquitos are most active beginning at dusk each evening and through the night until dawn. To help minimize exposure to mosquitos, the University of Connecticut is recommending to all units that outdoor activities and events scheduled to take place anytime between dusk and dawn be rescheduled to another time during the day. The noon kickoff will ensure that fans, student-athletes and staff are outdoors during the hours of the day that see low mosquito activity.
For more information on the EEE virus, visit https://portal.ct.gov/mosquito.
USF fans no longer able to attend the game at UConn and wishing to refund previously purchased tickets for the contest can e-mail [email protected] for a full refund.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF posted its second straight 10-win season in 2017 (10-2) by winning its second straight Birmingham Bowl with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech. USF is one of just 15 teams nationally to win 20-plus games in the last two seasons (21-4) and posted a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 13 in Week 8 of the 2017 season. The Bulls have won five of their last six bowl appearances and made nine (6-3) total bowl appearances in 21 seasons, including a current run of three straight bowls. USF won a program-record 11 games in 2016 (11-2) and has posted 14 winning seasons. The USF program, which first took the field in 1997, reached No. 2 in the rankings in 2007 and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and had 28 first-team all-conference selections.
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