Sept. 2, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports

MIAMI -- Florida's season opener Saturday against Middle Tennessee State was postponed because of Hurricane Frances, but the fate of Monday's Florida State-Miami game remained uncertain.

Florida's game, which was to be played in Gainesville, will be rescheduled Oct. 16, athletic director Jeremy Foley said Thursday.

Miami officials said Thursday that they still have not decided whether to postpone their nationally televised game against the Seminoles.

In the NFL, the Miami Dolphins said Thursday they were considering whether to travel to New Orleans for Friday's preseason finale with the Saints. Players are concerned about leaving their families behind to deal alone with the storm.

In baseball, the Florida Marlins said no decision has been made on their three-game weekend series with the Chicago Cubs, which is scheduled to begin Friday.

Frances, which is packing winds of 145 mph, is expected to hit the state late Friday or early Saturday.

Several other sporting events had already been postponed or canceled, including Thursday night's Jacksonville-Florida International football game and Saturday's Gateway Classic between Bethune-Cookman and Savannah State at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville.

Hampton and Jackson State moved their season opener Saturday from Orlando's Citrus Bowl to Virginia.

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