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Southeastern Conference takes a hit from COVID-19.
Monday’s conference postponed Saturday’s game between No.20 Auburn and Mississippi State due to positive cases of COVID-19 and quarantine in the Bulldogs’ program.
The SEC requires that programs have at least 53 fellows available for games. Mississippi State coach Mike Leach said the Bulldogs were just one player away from rescheduling last Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt.
“Fortunately, we didn’t have to do it,” Leach said. “We knew there was a good chance we had to cancel this week just because we were so close (last week).”
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No.5 Texas A&M has halted in-person activities after a player and staff member tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from a victory in South Carolina. LSU is battling an outbreak that could jeopardize Saturday’s game against the No.1 Alabama. And Arkansas coach Sam Pittman has tested positive and could miss the game in 6th place for Florida.
The “stop-and-start” nature of varsity sports in the pandemic is now familiar, but the set of issues was a reminder of just how fragile the season is. Monday’s problems also spread beyond the SEC: Michigan State announced men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo tested positive for COVID-19, Mountain West canceled the game. Air Force football slated for Wyoming this Saturday due to a “rising trend” of COVID-19 cases at the academy and the Pac-12 opened their season this weekend with two games postponed.
Mississippi State’s game against Auburn has been tentatively postponed to Dec. 12 in Starkville, Mississippi. Athletic Director John Cohen said the Bulldogs were disappointed, but “our priority is the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes and staff.”
Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said the Aggies are undergoing further testing and contact tracing in hopes the team can return to campus on Tuesday. He was confident that Saturday’s game in Tennessee will be played.
Pittman learned on Monday that he had tested positive. The SEC protocol for asymptomatic positives will require him to isolate for at least 10 days from the date of the positive test if a retest confirms the result. Defensive coordinator Barry Odom will serve as interim head coach.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron said linked quarantines due to possible exposure had cleared up his roster. He declined to enter the number of players affected by the team’s latest outbreak.
“It’s going to be difficult, obviously, with the guys who are eliminated,” said Orgeron. “When they tell me we’re at a number or something – we can play or we can’t play – I think it’s league … but right now we’re playing Alabama . “
Florida has been through it before – more than 30 players and staff tested positive in an outbreak last month that caused the SEC to postpone two of the Gators’ games.
“You really really have to listen to your coaches and listen to the CDC’s guidelines because, if you follow them, you should be in the best possible position to get back on the field as soon as possible,” said Florida quarterback Kyle Trask. . .
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