NCAAF teams
Jeff Barlis, College Football 10y

Suspensions over after halted opener

College Football, Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida's season opener was suspended on Saturday, but it turns out one long night of rain, lightning and delays was punishment enough for three Gators players who had been suspended.

Coach Will Muschamp announced on Monday that starting defensive tackle Darious Cummings, wide receiver Demarcus Robinson and defensive tackle Jay-nard Bostwick will play this Saturday against Eastern Michigan.

Cummings, a senior, and Bostwick, a redshirt freshman, had been suspended for a violation of team rules, while Robinson was being disciplined for what Muschamp called a university sanction.

"They will be back this week with us," Muschamp said. "Not just as far as the suspension of a game, but they've handled a lot of other things for me, as well as Demarcus Robinson, who had a university sanction that's been resolved."

Muschamp had announced the suspensions just hours before the opener against Idaho.

Then the skies opened. After a nearly three-hour delay, Florida fielded the opening kick and lined up for its first play when another lightning strike forced the teams back inside. They would not return.

The game was ultimately suspended due to lightning and unplayable field conditions.

A decision to reschedule or cancel the game has not been reached, and Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley had little to say Monday other than reiterating that he hopes to announce a decision in the next day or two.

"[There are] a lot of people we've got to talk to," he said. "Obviously, we need to reach out to the University of Idaho. My staff and I met this morning and talked about possible scenarios.

"There's just a lot of different moving parts there. ... We're going to have answers to everything financially, dates, tickets, reasons, all that sort of things. We're just not there yet."

One scenario under discussion, mentioned by Idaho coach Paul Petrino during the Sun Belt's teleconference on Monday morning, is to play the game in December.

Both teams have an open date on Oct. 25 -- for Florida, it's the week before a key game against SEC East rival Georgia -- but neither coach appears to prefer giving up that week off.

"I think both teams have a bye week, so it's important for both teams," Muschamp said. "But I can't really [state a preference] other than [it's] an opportunity to prepare a little extra for an Eastern Division opponent."

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