Can Miami’s football season endure amid campus life intersecting with the coronavirus?
Football will be played this season in the Atlantic Coast Conference — but how much and for how long?
Although the Miami Hurricanes now have their opponents without specific game dates, as announced Wednesday by the ACC , the most significant roadblock for all NCAA teams remains the coronavirus pandemic.
UM athletic director Blake James told reporters repeatedly Wednesday evening and again in a WQAM radio interview Thursday that the 11-game schedule, which likely begins Sept. 12, was “aspirational’’ and that college students can’t be put in a bubble like the NBA — not to mention South Florida is among the worst areas in the nation in terms of people infected.
“We just need everyone to do their part to bring an end to this pandemic,’’ James told WQAM. “If we want to have college football, if we want to have people in the stands, everyone has got to do their part.’’
President Frenk responds
UM president and physician Julio Frenk, highly respected in global health matters and the former Minister of Health in Mexico, on Thursday responded to the Miami Herald by email regarding his thoughts on how difficult he envisions it will be for the Hurricanes to complete the season the way it is planned.
“I believe if we follow the protocols we have in place, the Hurricanes will have a successful season both on and off the field,’’ Frenk said. “They have demonstrated great discipline since returning to campus for training in June. They understand their responsibilities to each other, to the fans, and to the community and I look forward to seeing them play.’’
But will other fans be able to see them play at Hard Rock? UM is taking its lead from Hard Rock Stadium and Dolphins officials, who James said are communicating with local government officials regarding various venue plans if fans are allowed.
“There are ways to carry out events — particularly at outdoor venues — while observing science-based public health recommendations and guidance,’’ Frenk told the Herald. “If fans observe that guidance, I do think it can safely work.’’
Mandatory testing standards
The ACC COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group released a report Wednesday regarding standards for competition and mandatory testing once a week (within three days of a game) beginning with the week of the first game. But college students, including athletes, roam campuses and mingle with other coeds, likely making every day a scary one for coaches trying to keep the situation in check.
The New York Times reported Wednesday that a survey “of every public four-year college in the country, as well as every private institution that competes in Division I sports or is a member of an elite group of research universities” revealed at least 6,600 “cases tied to about 270 college over the course of the pandemic.’’ And that’s before the academic year has even started.
The Miami Herald reported July 16 that at least three Hurricanes football players had tested positive for COVID-19. College football teams around the nation have had many more, such as Rutgers, which quarantined the entire team beginning last weekend after at least 15 players tested positive. NJ.com reported that a Rutgers campus party might have precipitated the virus outbreak.
‘Very serious threat’
“We must resist complacency,’’ Frenk said this week in a UM-produced video. “The situation remains fluid and the pandemic represents a very serious threat.’’ Nonetheless, UM’s president reiterated he is “confident it is possible to create a safe workplace on campus.’’
Frenk pointed to UM’s student-athletes being “on campus for nearly two months this summer and as you may have seen reported, we have only had a handful of positive cases.”
Staff member tests positive
Frenk added that “thanks to our strict protocols, despite the close contact trainers, strength coaches and other athletics personnel have with our student-athletes, only one staff member has tested positive so far.’’
Neither the infected staff member nor the sport was identified.
ACC commissioner John Swofford said this week that the ACC board of directors’ decision to proceed this fall with football, which gives each team two bye weeks, “presents a path, if public health guidance allows, to move forward with competition. ...We recognize that we may need to be nimble and make adjustments in the future.’’
Here are some of those mandatory minimum standards released by the ACC COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group, which is comprised of ACC-member physicians, infection disease and public health experts, athletic health care administrators and a mental health expert:
▪ Every member of the team (including coaches and most of the support staff) must be tested each week within three calendar days of a game.
▪ Players identified as having close contact (within six feet for at least 15 minutes) with anyone who tests positive must quarantine for at least 14 days, even if that close contact should test negative for the virus.
▪ A student-athlete who tests positive shall be isolated for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms/positive test result and at least one day has passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement of respiratory symptoms.
▪ In all sports, positive test results of any player, coach or support staff, who came into close contact (see above) with any member of the opposing team played during the preceding 48 hours must be shared “as quickly as possible and no later than 24 hours following receipt of the test result, to any such opponent.
▪ If a player tests positive after a game played during the previous 48 hours, the infected individual’s role on the team (e.g. offensive lineman, quarterback, linebacker, assistant coach, athletic trainer) must be reported to the opponent, as well as a summary of their interactions with the opposing team (e.g. played in the second half). According to privacy laws, the infected person’s name may not be shared, unless that person authorizes approval.
▪ Players who have tested positive are not subject to weekly pre-competition testing for 90 days from the date of the positive test unless the player exhibits symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
This story was originally published July 31, 2020 at 9:51 AM.
