Posted on 03/14/2008 7:16:18 PM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
A wind storm caused several bolts to fall from the rafters of the Georgia Dome on Friday, temporarily delaying a basketball game between Mississippi State and Alabama.
Catwalks were swaying and insulation fell from the roof as fans left their seats and huddled in the concourse looking for safety. Curtains that drape the sides of the Dome blew open.
Scott Wise of Tupelo, Miss. said he was sitting in Section 107, Row 1, which are temporary bleachers courtside, when he was almost hit by the 1/2-inch long bolt.
"A big old blot just fell out of the top," Wise said. "It hit right beside my chair. I had no idea what was going on. I looked up and thought the roof was going to come in."
A washer also landed near press row.
A huge panel on the north side of the Dome was ripped open by the storm.
"It was strange. My initial thought was the Kentucky people were stomping their feet above us," Georgia athletics director Damon Evans said.
“A big old blot just fell out of the top,”
The paper had the mispelled word on their site? (blot).
I just spoke to my 18 y/o son who is at a conference about a mile from there. He was outside when it started. He said the wind and rain were terrible, with materials (wood, signs, etc) blowing everywhere. People were screaming at others to get off the streets.
He was scared, and he doesn’t scare easily.
Is he OK?
I was watching, also. It was an amazing sight and sound.
God is just upset that the Gators were knocked out of the tournament.
When an 18 year old gets scared, it’s somthing serious.
The dryer cannot be far behind.
More like the devil ;) God was just happy M. Riley hit the 3.
The teams are back on the court warming up.
Footage outside the arena shows some significant damage.
Damage also to CNN near the Georgia Dome.
After the big scare, it was a stirring moment.
Ha!
Radar shows another tornadic cell headed right at Atlanta - it may not be over.
it’s now being reported as a tornado
They’re starting the game back up, I sure wouldn’t want that building to take another hit while a game is going on.
And after this overtime is over, there’s still another game to follow.
That is a very true statement
There was a roar when the wind hit.
“And after this overtime is over, there’s still another game to follow.”
“...another game...” No, it is the KENTUCKY game. Let’s keep our facts straight!! LOL
LOL
I'm not sure about the Kentucky-Georgia game now. Nobody's come out to warm up and one of the announcers mentioned about the possible second storm on the way.
You know, Riley’s three might have saved a life. Without the game going to OT, some of those fans might have been outside.
Someone inside the Dome reported a estimated 2 inch long bolt falling from the roof and putting a gouge in the floor.
They are talking like they may not play at all tonight. Ky-Ga winner against Miss State I think. Two games in one day for the Ky Ga winner might help Miss State quite a bit.
Oh, Go Vols.
Postponed.
In Minnesota, that is called SPRING!
BS... a storm tearing the roof of a crowded stadium while a game is going on is NOT common in Minnesota.
It’s not the storm, it is the location.
Talk about a sporting hero.
Well, as you know the game has been postponed. I read a moment ago that the Georgia athletic director said that when the storm came through and the rafters were swaying and the roof was flapping in the breeze that he “thought it was Kentucky fans stomping their feet on the bleachers”. That quote was in the Atlanta Journal Constipation.
I have no doubt you’re in for some interesting weather. We got it hard last night in Memphis. Just very odd. Massive lightning with intermittent rain. Not your typical electric storm, at all.
Alabamee’s chickens are coming home to roost! He he. /s
LOL!
I’m a little surprised that none of the broadcasters at the game or anyone there were aware that there was a tornado warning? Usually around here we have our local weather forecasters tracking these things for miles and showing their path.
UGA beats Kentucky! Looks like UK will be joining us in the NIT.
It’s going to be an uncomfortable selection Sunday for the Cats. A lot of people think that they’re in, but it’s sometimes a thin margin. In Buzz’s best year at UT, all the bracket projections showed the Vols at about the same seed that the Cats are projected. Then Tennessee lost its first SECT game and fell all the way to the NIT.
I don’t see how 18-12 gets them in with some of the bad losses they’ve had this year. Losing to Georgia is a killer.
UGA does it again!!!
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