Penn State university halted sports team activities after 48 students-athletes tested positive for COVID-19 from August 31 to September 4.
“Based on these results and out of an abundance of caution, Penn State Athletics has paused team activities for several programs and initiated standard isolation and precautionary quarantine,” the university said in a statement. “Contact tracing is being performed and there is no evidence to suggest COVID-19 was transmitted during practice or training activities.”
According to reports, after a previous week’s round of testing that produced just one positive test, the numbers ballooned to 48 positive tests, which suggests that an athlete contracted the virus outside of campus activities or from a student not associated with the football program and spread it.
Or a number of players or coaches became too lax with safety protocols and are now paying the price.
College students aren’t paid athletes that you can restrict to a bubble for 24 hours a day until its time to come out and play. They are on college campuses with other young people who party, gather and have a very lackluster attitude towards the coronavirus which has killed roughly 200,000 Americans. Getting exposed is as easy as a one night stand after a keg party.
While some major conferences have chosen not to play, games have started and will go on for other conferences.
ACC: 11-game football schedule (10 conference, one non-conference) announced July 29
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Begins the week of Sept. 7-12
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Big Ten: The Big Ten will not play football this fall, as the conference postponed all fall sports. The Big Ten is looking into playing fall sports in the spring.
Big 12: 10-game football schedule (nine conference, one non-conference), with conference games starting Sept. 26. All non-conference games must be completed before Sept. 26. All competition will start after Sept. 1.
SEC: 10-game football schedule (10 conference, zero non-conference)
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Begins Sept. 26 | Full week-by-week schedule
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Pac-12: The conference has postponed the fall football season (and all fall sports through the end of the calendar year). It is considering whether fall sports can be played after Jan. 1, 2021.
American: 12-game football schedule (eight conference, up to four non-conference) announced Aug. 5
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Conference games set to begin Sept. 19
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MAC: The MAC has postponed all fall sports, including football. It is looking into potentially playing this spring.
Mountain West: The Mountain West has postponed all fall sports. The conference will explore the feasibility of rescheduling fall sports for the spring.
Sun Belt: 12-game football schedule (eight conference, up to four non-conference) announced Aug. 4
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Set to begin over Labor Day weekend
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2020 CFB Season Is Underway
Some D-1 games kicked off last week and the University of Miami opens tonight against the UAB Blazers. Some of these universities are even allowing a limited audience.
By the weekend, the college football slate will start filling up with Syracuse playing UNC, Duke vs. Notre Dame, Georgia Tech vs. Florida State and Texas, Oklahoma, Louisville and national championship contender Clemson all opening up on Saturday.
COVID-19 is unpredictable and it only takes one student-athlete to get it and spread it like wildfire in San Francisco. Everyone has there fingers crossed and hope that these athletes remain safe.
