Power Play: When Lights Go Out, Football Finds a Way

Last week’s SMU-FSU game was supposed to be a straightforward contest on a balmy Florida evening. But when the power went out at Doak Campbell Stadium, something remarkable happened: instead of panicking or calling off the game entirely, the teams and officials found a way to make do.

In an era where high-tech gadgetry is increasingly prevalent in sports, it’s refreshing to see that in times of crisis, old-school football still has its uses. As SMU coach Rhett Lashlee pointed out after the game, “We’re just going to play old-school football.” And so they did – for a while, at least.

The real story here isn’t the power outage itself, but rather how everyone involved responded to this unprecedented challenge. There was no whining or complaining; instead, there was a collective shrug and a determination to find a solution.

Having two teams with strong coaching staffs and some creative problem-solving skills certainly helped. SMU athletic director Damon Evans summed it up nicely: “There wasn’t friction one time during any of the communication that we had…” – and that’s precisely what made this situation so remarkable.

The Power of Adaptation

In a culture where instant gratification is often expected, it’s easy to forget that sometimes things just don’t go according to plan. But when they don’t, do you roll over and accept defeat? Or do you dig deep and find a way forward?

The SMU-FSU teams showed us the latter approach in spades. Without iPads or video replay boards, the game went on, with head officials keeping time and coaches relying on their training to make calls.

A Lesson for All Sports

This incident should serve as a powerful reminder to all sports organizations that sometimes less is more. When technology fails, do we really need all those fancy gadgets and gizmos? Or can we go back to basics – to the simple joys of competition, skill, and teamwork?

In an era where concussions, rule changes, and player protests dominate the headlines, it’s easy to forget that sometimes it’s just about the game itself. As Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels said after the game: “We prepare for situations like that… I think we had a good plan.”

The Human Factor

Behind-the-scenes heroes played a crucial role in this story – from city utility crews to public safety officials and game-day operations staff. These unsung heroes worked tirelessly to ensure the contest could be staged safely, even if it wasn’t exactly as planned.

Their efforts might not have made the headlines, but they made all the difference. And let’s be clear: in a world where sports are increasingly about entertainment value and ratings-driven drama, it’s heartening to see that sometimes – just sometimes – people still put the game first.

A New Normal?

This incident is unlikely to become the new norm for future games, but perhaps it will inspire a new appreciation for the simple joys of competition – and remind us all that sometimes less really is more. As SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said after the game: “If you whine about how hard it is, you’re not going to solve the problem.” Words to live by in any walk of life, especially when the lights go out.