FSU-SMU game turns into old-school football after stadium power outage wipes out in-game communication

A power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium minutes before the SMU-FSU game led to officials deciding to play without any form of communication. This decision meant coaches and players could not communicate via headsets, iPads, or other devices. The game proceeded in an ‘old-school’ manner, a significant gamble for both teams with considerable implications.

• A power outage occurred at Doak Campbell Stadium minutes before the SMU vs. Florida State game.
• The outage forced officials to decide whether to postpone or play the game without any in-game communication.
• Both teams agreed to play the game Monday night without communications, including helmet-to-helmet, coordinator communication, or iPad usage.
• This decision resulted in an ‘old-school’ football game, with officials practicing hand signals with coaches.
• SMU had concerns about playing the game on Tuesday due to their upcoming Saturday game, making Monday night the chosen option despite the communication issues.
• SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee noted his team had not practiced without coach-to-player communication in over two years.