The University of Colorado’s football team, under the leadership of head coach Deion Sanders, is gearing up to take on the University of Central Florida this Saturday in Orange County, Florida. However, amidst the excitement of the upcoming game, a controversial social media post has caused quite a stir.
Hurricane Helene has left a trail of destruction across multiple states, including Florida, with a devastating death toll and billions of dollars in property damage. The aftermath of this natural disaster has left many communities reeling, making any references to the hurricane a sensitive subject.
In a now-deleted post on Colorado’s social media account, a graphic featuring safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig standing on a Florida beach with water up to his knees was shared. The caption “24 hours” seemed to allude to the impending game against UCF. Additionally, the image included a sign in the background that read “Beware of Sharks,” a nod to Silmon-Craig’s nickname, “Shark.”
This post quickly garnered attention and backlash, with some accusing Colorado’s social media team of being insensitive to the ongoing crisis caused by Hurricane Helene. The controversy surrounding the post has sparked a debate on social media, with some questioning the intentions behind the graphic and others defending it as harmless promotion for the upcoming game.
The National Weather Service in Tallahassee issued a rare extreme wind warning for several counties in the Big Bend region as Hurricane Helene made landfall as a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane with winds reaching 140 mph. The storm surge and flooding caused by the hurricane posed a significant risk to the west coast of the Florida Peninsula and the Big Bend region.
As a result of the severe weather conditions, Saturday’s game between Colorado and UCF was moved inland to Orlando. This decision was made to ensure the safety of both teams and fans attending the game. Despite the change in location, both teams are focused on preparing for the matchup and putting on a competitive performance on the field.
Subheadings:
1. Social Media Controversy
2. Impact of Hurricane Helene
3. Game Location Change
The game between Colorado and UCF will mark the first-ever meeting between the two teams. UCF, a Division I program since 1996, joined the Big 12 conference in 2023. The anticipation for this matchup has been building, and fans are eager to see how both teams will fare against each other on the field.
In the midst of the social media controversy and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the focus remains on the game itself. Both Colorado and UCF are committed to putting on a competitive and entertaining performance for their fans, despite the challenges posed by the recent events. As the teams prepare to face off in Orlando, all eyes will be on the gridiron as they battle it out for a victory in this highly anticipated matchup.
