BOULDER, Colo - It turned out to be a nice Saturday afternoon in Boulder, perfect for a college football game. Unfortunately most of the previous week featured historic rainfall that led to widespread flooding in the area, at least three deaths and the postponement of Colorado's college football game against Fresno State.
The company that handles concessions at Folsom Field delivered the food to the stadium for the game before officials officially postponed it Friday. So the school decided to open the stadium's club level to first responders and flood victims Saturday, providing a free meal and a dry place to relax and regroup.
First-year Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre and his entire team were on hand to serve meals and handle the clean up. Student-athletes from other programs and athletic department staffers also pitched in to help those in need and those in need of some sleep after a long, wet, miserable three days.
"It's been a really nice break and a nice little diversion for us," said officer Matthew DeLaria of the CU Police Department. "It's nice to see the players and everybody out here working to support the community."
Televisions and the stadium's big screens above both end zones showed college games around the nation as approximately 800 showed up to take advantage of the free meal and a chance to spend some time with the team.
The Buffs served hamburgers, hotdogs, cookies, chips and other stadium fare even while some student-athletes also were dealing with how the flood affected them. Wide receiver D.D. Goodson told the school's official website his apartment was filled with waist-deep water at one point and he lost his television, sofa and other possessions.
"It’s nice to help these evacuees because I know what they are going through,” Goodson said.
President Barack Obama approved federal disaster aid for the Boulder area on Friday
Colorado and Fresno State officials are trying to work out a make-up date for the game later this season, but the programs don't share a common bye week and either need help rescheduling from others in their respective conferences or they can play the game Dec. 7 in Boulder as long as neither team qualifies for its respective conference championship game, both of which are played that day.
Both teams are off to 2-0 starts. The Buffs don't play again until a road trip to Oregon State on Sept. 28. Fresno State plays host to Boise State on Friday.
"We'll make it up," MacIntyre said. "There are a lot of things happening on that. The NCAA will jump in. They will make sure. I mean, this is a national disaster. This isn't just a little thing. We'll be able to make it up some how some way."
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