Lightning disrupts football, flights

USF sees its home opener disrupted, and TIA delays several flights.

[Times photo: Stefanie Boyar] Referees meet under cloudy skies at the center of Raymond James Stadium on Thursday evening after delaying the University of South Florida's opening game against Florida Atlantic University because of the threat of lightning.

By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 30, 2002

TAMPA -- The threat of lightning Thursday evening delayed a college football game and several flights at Tampa International Airport as thunderstorms moved through the Tampa Bay area.

At Raymond James Stadium, the University of South Florida's opening game against Florida Atlantic University was stopped with 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter. It resumed 45 minutes later. Nearby, at TIA, nearly 10 departing and incoming flights were delayed because a lightning alert halted ground crew operations.

TIA spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan said the threat of lightning can keep ground crews from venturing onto the tarmac.

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