MORGANTOWN - West Virginia and East Carolina officials are adopting a wait-and-see attitude toward tropical storm Hanna and are planning to go ahead with a 4:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday in Greenville, N.C.

That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't being some changes made.

So far, none of them concern the game itself, which pits No. 8 West Virginia against East Carolina at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The schools are expected to reassess the situation today when more information becomes available regarding Hanna's track. According to National Weather Service forecasts, Hanna is expected to strengthen to a hurricane at sea today, but then revert back to a tropical storm when it hits the North Carolina coast late tonight or early Saturday.

While the eye of the storm is expected to pass through or near Greenville, unless it slows it could be well past the city by late afternoon.

What remains to be seen, however, is how much rain the storm might drop or how much damage it might do. The possibility exists that the WVU-ECU kickoff could be delayed.

But while officials aren't changing the kickoff time, they are altering some of the events surrounding the game. Most notably, East Carolina will not open parking lots until three hours before kickoff (instead of the usual six hours) and the WVU Alumni Association has changed the site of its pre-game event.

The WVU function was to be held in the corporate tent area outside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, but that area has been closed because of the possibility of high winds. Instead, the alumni group will hold its function at the Greenville Convention Center.

"Hurricane Hanna has caused quite a stir in and around the Greenville area and city officials have indicated that no corporate tents will be allowed around the stadium in advance of the storm," said WVU Alumni Association president Steve Douglas. "We certainly want to ensure the safety of our alumni and friends, so we have moved our event to an indoor location just a short distance from the stadium.''

The alumni event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, East Carolina officials have decided to change some of the normal parking arrangements, including cutting back on the time the lots will be open. Also, tents and tow cookers will be prohibited from entering the lots.

"We want as many Pirate fans here as possible, but at the same time, we want them to exercise personal responsibility in making their decisions," ECU athletic director Terry Holland said. "We will need the help of all fans who attend the game. I want to encourage everyone to figure out ways of getting here that might be a little different than normal in order to help others whose parking spaces might be affected.''

Reach Dave Hickman at 348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.

MORGANTOWN - West Virginia and East Carolina officials are adopting a wait-and-see attitude toward tropical storm Hanna and are planning to go ahead with a 4:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday in Greenville, N.C.

That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't being some changes made.

So far, none of them concern the game itself, which pits No. 8 West Virginia against East Carolina at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The schools are expected to reassess the situation today when more information becomes available regarding Hanna's track. According to National Weather Service forecasts, Hanna is expected to strengthen to a hurricane at sea today, but then revert back to a tropical storm when it hits the North Carolina coast late tonight or early Saturday.

While the eye of the storm is expected to pass through or near Greenville, unless it slows it could be well past the city by late afternoon.

What remains to be seen, however, is how much rain the storm might drop or how much damage it might do. The possibility exists that the WVU-ECU kickoff could be delayed.

But while officials aren't changing the kickoff time, they are altering some of the events surrounding the game. Most notably, East Carolina will not open parking lots until three hours before kickoff (instead of the usual six hours) and the WVU Alumni Association has changed the site of its pre-game event.

The WVU function was to be held in the corporate tent area outside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, but that area has been closed because of the possibility of high winds. Instead, the alumni group will hold its function at the Greenville Convention Center.

"Hurricane Hanna has caused quite a stir in and around the Greenville area and city officials have indicated that no corporate tents will be allowed around the stadium in advance of the storm," said WVU Alumni Association president Steve Douglas. "We certainly want to ensure the safety of our alumni and friends, so we have moved our event to an indoor location just a short distance from the stadium.''

The alumni event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, East Carolina officials have decided to change some of the normal parking arrangements, including cutting back on the time the lots will be open. Also, tents and tow cookers will be prohibited from entering the lots.

"We want as many Pirate fans here as possible, but at the same time, we want them to exercise personal responsibility in making their decisions," ECU athletic director Terry Holland said. "We will need the help of all fans who attend the game. I want to encourage everyone to figure out ways of getting here that might be a little different than normal in order to help others whose parking spaces might be affected.''

Reach Dave Hickman at 348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.