Trump will not attend Georgia-Alabama game due to Hurricane Isaias - ESPN

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Southeastern Conference college football clash between No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Alabama remained on schedule for Saturday night despite the looming arrival of Hurricane Isaias along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

President Donald Trump, however, will no longer attend the game in Tuscaloosa. Trump posted on his social media site Friday that «based on the fact that a huge Hurricane/Storm is coming, it is important to have our wonderful First Responders, Law Enforcement, and others, focused on that Storm, and in no way be thinking about the safety, or presence, of the President of the United States, ME!»

«Therefore, I will miss that potentially unbelievable Game, Alabama vs. Georgia,» Trump continued. «But, hopefully, the Game will go on despite the weather!»

He also promised, without providing details, «I will be visiting both of those Teams at a later date.»

Forecasters have warned of a significant surge, damaging winds, flooding and possible tornadoes before the storm loses steam inland. ESPN's "College GameDay" show was moved indoors instead of outside near the stadium, and Alabama officials shortened tailgating hours on campus, barring tents amid concerns about high winds.

Tuscaloosa is about 200 miles north of the Alabama coast and an hour's drive from the Mississippi state line. There is a chance that the storm will have largely passed Tuscaloosa by the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff, and conditions at Bryant-Denny Stadium might be soggy rather than a gusty downpour.

Georgia's campus in Athens is about 275 miles east of Alabama's campus. Leland Barrow, associate sports communications director for the Bulldogs, said Friday that the team's travel plan remained unchanged and on schedule.

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