Iowa State and Kansas State began the 2025 college football season in Ireland. ESPN tried to blame an injury to Donovan Edwards on fireworks despite horrendous field conditions.
It was a rather strange conclusion from the Worldwide Leader in Sports!
I have seen plenty of college football games decided by weather. I have even seen games impacted by fireworks. I’m not so sure that is what happened here…
The weather proved to be a challenge for college football in Ireland.
Temperatures in Manhattan, Kansas hovered around 78 degrees at the time of kickoff. There was not a cloud in the sky.
Even though it was technically a home game for the Wildcats, they did not play at home.
The rivalry known as ‘Farmageddon’ was instead played in Dublin at Aviva Stadium, which normally houses the Irish national soccer and rugby teams. College football is not a thing over there.
Although this weird international game is not a new phenomenon, I still don’t like it. I am a firm believer that Kansas State and Iowa State should play on American soil on a chilly night in late November.
But the powers that be do not care what I think when there is more money to be made so I digress…
While the weather in The Little Apple was perfect, the same could not be said about The Pale. It was pouring rain throughout most of the morning and the field was in terrible condition as a result.
Most of the pain was washed out before kickoff. Grass turned to mud in a hurry.
The ball was also very wet, which we saw take its toll on the first offensive drive for the cyclones.
Now Iowa State fumbles
— College Football Carter (@BigTenBadgers) August 23, 2025
Ireland getting the full Farmageddon experience#Cyclones #EMAW pic.twitter.com/GBQeNq5uhD
Gross. The field was not ready for American football if you ask me.
Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards suffered an injury against Iowa State.
For some reason, ESPN did not choose to acknowledge the poor field conditions at any point during the first half. Instead, they tried to blame an awkward muffled punt and subsequent injury on fireworks.
Kansas State star Dylan Edwards fumbled the ball away the first special teams play of the season.
MUFFED PUNT
— College Football Carter (@BigTenBadgers) August 23, 2025
IOWA STATE RECOVERS AT THE 8#Cyclones #EMAW pic.twitter.com/2TuorFjmjz
It hit him right in the hands!
— College Football Carter (@BigTenBadgers) August 23, 2025
Unfortunately, Edwards suffered an undisclosed injury on the play. He went to the locker room at the end of the first quarter and did not return to the game in the first half.
By all accounts, the fumble was a result of three different factors:
- A wet football
- Early-season jitters
- Slippery field
ESPN presented a different theory. It blamed the muffed punt and Edwards’ injury on pregame fireworks.
so in the first game of the season they lit off too many pregame fireworks and the smoke caused a player’s injury because he couldn’t see the ball properly to field a punt??? pic.twitter.com/7MW2aX7KT7
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 23, 2025
However, Aviva Stadium is not a dome and the lingering smoke did not seem to cause any major issues. Dylan Edwards just dropped it…
Maybe there is something more that I am missing here, but I cannot believe this is the theory that was broadcast live on ESPN. Fireworks caused an injury. Not the field conditions. That’s a new one!
The post ESPN Blames Kansas State Injury On Pregame Fireworks Despite Horrendous Field Conditions In Ireland appeared first on BroBible.
ESPN Blames Kansas State Injury On Pregame Fireworks Despite Horrendous Field Conditions In Ireland
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