Weather scrambles fans' travel plans

Times wires
Monday, January 10, 2011

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Wintry weather in Alabama left Auburn fans with tickets to the BCS Championship Game out in the cold back home, while others scrambled for alternative routes or endured delays.

Charter flights out of Birmingham Airport took off by midday. On campus, classes and a viewing party scheduled at Auburn Arena were canceled.

Tigers fan James Harrison made it to Arizona from Charlotte, N.C., but he hadn't been able to get hold of friends trying to get there.

"I know people who were sleeping in the airport at Birmingham," Harrison said. "Who knows if they made it or not?"

Chase Payne said he had friends who were scheduled to fly out of Birmingham but drove a few hours to either Memphis or New Orleans to catch other flights.

"They said lots of people have been doing this," Payne said.

One Alabama resident who didn't get to make the trip: Gov. Bob Riley, who didn't want to leave after declaring a state of emergency Sunday.

NEWTON NICKED: Auburn QB Cam Newton received medical treatment on his back after the game and showed up about 10 minutes late for the postgame news conference. "I'm okay," he said. "It was worth it."

MOMENT of silence: A pregame moment of silence was held for victims of the weekend assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson. Names of the six victims were read and Giffords was acknowledged before the moment of silence, which preceded a choir singing God Bless America.

CECIL NEWTON update: The contingent of Newton's family attending the game didn't include the quarterback's father, Auburn AD Jay Jacobs said. Cecil Newton was restricted to "limited access" to the school's athletic program when the NCAA found that he shopped his son's services to Mississippi State during the recruiting process. He also skipped his son's Heisman Trophy-winning ceremony in New York last month. Jacobs said the decision for Cecil Newton not to attend "was mutually agreed upon."

ALUM CAPTAINS: Bo Jackson and Ahmad Rashad were honorary captains. Jackson played tailback for Auburn from 1982-85 and won the 1985 Heisman. Rashad played receiver and running back at Oregon from 1969-71, known then as Bobby Moore. He set 14 school records.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/weather-scrambles-fans-travel-plans/1144730

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