Boise State vs. Boston College First Responder Bowl Cancelled

The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl that was being played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas between the No. 23 ranked Boise State Broncos and the Boston College Eagles was cancelled due to a threat of severe weather following a delay of close to 1 ½ hours Wednesday.

It is believed to be the first bowl game cancelled due to weather.

The bowl game representatives released a statement that said after over an hour of delay in play and a review of the lightning and thunderstorm cells that remain in the area near the Cotton Bowl it was decided the game should be called off.

The game was halted with Boston College ahead 7-0 with just over five minutes left in the first quarter. Boston College had scored its touchdown on a 19-yard run by AJ Dillon shortly before the delay came.

A spokesperson from the NCAA said through an email that the bowl game is believed to be the first to be cancelled by weather.

The athletic director for Boston College tweeted that all fans that bought tickets through the college would be refunded in full on January 2 and could choose any home event in the athletics department from now through next December and receive free tickets for the quantity of bowl tickets bought.

Boise State announced as well that refunds would be offered fans that purchased through the school.

Before the official announcement of the cancellation, fans started to return to their stadium seats after strong thunderstorms has passed through but lightning strikes continued near the Cotton Bowl for almost three hours after the first delay with more expected.

Boise State was attempting to win 11 games for its second consecutive season after losing 19-16 to Fresno State in the Mountain West Conference title game at home in Boise.

This was the second bowl trip for Boise State to Texas since becoming a FBS member in 1996. In 2003, the Broncos defeated TCU in the Fort Worth Bowl 34-31.