The Mountain West Conference football season has been extended a week. With wildfires in the greater San Diego area, Saturday’s BYU-San Diego State game was postponed until Dec. 1.
San Diego State student-athletes spent Monday at Qualcomm Stadium handing out supplies to evacuees. The stadium has been converted into an evacuation center.
“It’s a tough situation. We’re not even talking about football. We’re in a disaster zone,” Aztecs coach Chuck Long said Tuesday on the league’s weekly conference call.
Unlike the Chargers, who were heading to Arizona to practice, it wasn’t feasible to move the college team, even with classes canceled.
Long said staff families evacuated their homes, dividing time between nearby hotels and the athletic department facility.
Besides the BYU-San Diego State game, the firestorm created the MWC’s biggest scheduling turmoil since 9/11. Concerns over air quality forced the league to move the cross country championships to Albuquerque.
MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said airlines have offered to waive rescheduling fees.
The volleyball match between No. 21 Colorado State and San Diego State also has been postponed, with a possible Nov. 4 makeup date.
CSU football offensive co-coordinator Dave Lay, who has a home northeast of San Diego, said he has been assured his home is safe, for now.
“I heard one staff member at San Diego State lost a home,” Thompson said. “It’s a stressful situation. How do you decide to play soccer or volleyball? These people have only the clothes on their backs. My heart goes out to them.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
