Georgia Redcoat's pep band cancels trip to Alabama game in aftermath of storm

The Georgia football team's game against Alabama this Saturday night is set to commence as planned, but the Redcoat Band's pep band will not be joining the team on its journey due to the storm. The storm, originally a hurricane that has now weakened to a post-tropical cyclone, has inflicted damage with high winds, falling trees, and heavy rainfall.

Georgia Power reported that at 10 a.m. on Saturday, approximately 56,000 customers across the state remained without power, while another 60,000 had their power restored. The Derbies Pep Band, consisting of about 80 members, had been scheduled to attend the game as the sole Redcoat contingent for the 7:30 p.m. ET matchup. The band's director, Brett Bawcum, informed the Athens Banner-Herald via email on Saturday afternoon that the band's decision to skip the trip was based on "an abundance of caution."

The band had been in contact with Georgia athletics, the University of Georgia administration, emergency personnel, and travel partners over the course of several days to make this decision. The Redcoat Band released a statement on Instagram expressing their appreciation for the partnership in safeguarding the safety of students and staff.

Despite the band's absence, the statement emphasized that the band would continue to cheer for the team just as enthusiastically from Athens. Isaias was approximately 50 miles south of Birmingham at 10 a.m. on Saturday, heading north-northwest at 10 mph, with sustained winds reaching up to 35 miles per hour, accompanied by stronger gusts.

Wind advisories remained in effect in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa until 7 p.m. CDT. There is an 80% chance of rain in Tuscaloosa during the day and a 50% chance at night.