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STUDENTS in West Virginia can thank Pat McAfee and the Mountaineers for giving them an extra day off of school this upcoming Friday, August 30.
Local officials have decided to cancel school on Friday due to the traffic congestion the college football clash between West Virginia University and Penn State will likely cause.
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“In consultation with MECCA 911 and local law enforcement, Monongalia County Schools will be CLOSED for students this Friday, August 30 due to the anticipated traffic congestion and potential delays affecting our bus services,” the school district announced Wednesday evening.
“Monongalia County Schools’ top priority is ensuring student safety. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this change,” the post added.
Students from over 19 schools, including 11 elementary schools across the Monongalia County School District will have the day off.
Instead of having a three-day weekend because of receiving Labor Day off, students will now be off school for four days in a row from August 30 until September 2.
Although the Nittany Lions and Mountaineers will battle at noon on Saturday, officials have taken into account the on-campus partying that will take place 24 hours beforehand.
McAfee, who is a former WVU alum will be back in town on Friday at his alma mater for the big game.
He is set to host The Pat McAfee Show on Friday from 12-3 pm Eastern.
The show will broadcast from the Life Sciences building on campus near where Mountaineer Field, the original WVU Football stadium used to be located.
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“Our show will be live in Morgantown, West Virginia right before Penn State tries to walk into Morgantown,” McAfee said on a recent show.
“Biggest home opener for the West Virginia Mountaineer Football team since 1998.”
McAfee continued to share his excitement for his former college’s big opening weekend battle.
“A lot of years since somebody like Penn State tried to walk in. Opening weekend, you have got to be kidding me,” McAfee said.
“They don’t understand what these Morgantown fans are going to be like.”
The 60,000-seat stadium previously set a capacity record on November 20, 1993.
Pat McAfee’s playing days
Pat McAfee enjoyed a hugely successful stint before switching to a career in the media.
The talk show star played punter in the NFL for eight seasons from 2009 to 2016.
He was a seventh round NFL Draft pick in 2009 out of West Virginia and spent his entire career with the Indianapolis Colts.
The ex-punter was named to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2016, and he was a first team All-Pro in 2014, as well.
McAfee owns the unique NFL record of the highest career net average punting yards with 41.4 yards while his longest ever punt was 74.
The then number 9 ranked Mountaineers upset the 4th ranked Miami Hurricanes 17-14 in front of 70,222 fans.
Meanwhile, The Pat McAfee Show will be broadcast just around 2 miles away from Morgantown High School, one of the schools closing its doors on Friday.
Officials believe the traffic will increase between noon and 3 pm on Friday while McAfee broadcasts his show and WVU students attend class.
Multiple individuals will be coming in from out of town to watch the big game as hotels are selling out, according to WBOY.
The Pat McAfee Show will not be the only sports talk show in town on Friday.
Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff will also broadcast from campus two hours before their original noontime start.
Rob Stone hosts the show and is joined by college football legends Mark Ingram II, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, and three-time national champion coach Urban Meyer.
Friday’s show will feature a live performance from rapper Machine Gun Kelly.
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