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Pac-12 game canceled after several players, head coach test positive for COVID
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College football just lost another game heading into this weekend as the Pac-12 was forced to cancel the Arizona State-Cal matchup after an outbreak among the Sun Devil program.
According to Arizona State AD Ray Anderson, the program has discovered several cases of COVID within the program, including head coach Herm Edwards. Following the results of the tests, the Sun Devils could not meet the minimum threshold of 53 available scholarship student-athletes in order to play this weekend.
Following this news, Cal has now had both of its games canceled this season after last week’s cancellation of the Washington game. Cal now only has four games remaining on its schedule.
Herm Edwards released a statement on Friday following the news:
“First, I want to say that Lia, the girls and I are fine and I will be back quicker than you can say ‘Forks Up!’ Second, even with the marvelous care our medical professionals have provided for myself, my staff and my team over the past few months the virus still found me. So, I encourage all of you to take this virus seriously, to wear a mask, practice physical distancing and get tested whenever possible.
“As I’ve stated many times over, the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes is absolutely paramount and we will not put them at risk. Our team has worked extremely hard to get to this point, and even played a game last weekend. We will continue to care for our students-athletes and follow all protocols very thoroughly as we prepare for our next game. Our team and coaching staff are disappointed, but we do understand what we are dealing with.”
Here is the statement issued by the Pac-12:
The Pac-12 has cancelled the Cal at Arizona State football game scheduled for November 14. This decision was made under the Pac-12’s football game cancellation policy due to Arizona State not having the minimum number of scholarship players available for the game as a result of a number of positive football student-athlete COVID-19 cases and resulting isolation of additional football student-athletes under contact tracing protocols. Under Conference policy, the game will be declared a no contest.
The cancellation of this game is very disappointing to our student-athletes and our fans. At the same time it is further indication that our health and safety protocols are working in identifying positive cases and contact tracing cases. While all of us want to see our football student-athletes on the field competing, our number one priority must continue to be the health and safety of all those connected to Pac-12 football programs.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
