Michigan cancels game against Maryland, pauses football activity until Monday

Michigan football announced Wednesday afternoon that it has canceled this Saturday’s game against Maryland and will pause practices until at least Monday.

The game will not be rescheduled. “The decision by our medical professionals to stop practices and cancel this Saturday’s game against Maryland was made with the health, safety and welfare of the student-athletes, coaches and staff as our utmost priority,” said athletic director Warde Manuel in a statement. “We have seen an increase in the number of studentathletes unavailable to compete due to positive tests and associated contact tracing due to our most recent antigen and PCR testing results.”

Michigan initially paused all in-person activities Monday because of “an increased number of presumptive positives that are awaiting confirmation,” according to coach Jim Harbaugh.

“That’s an increased number from zero,” Harbaugh said Monday. “It was more than one. It was a few. So it was increased.”

At least one player tested positive before last Saturday’s game against Penn State and Harbaugh said the Wolverines have held out other players because of presumptive positive tests. Michigan’s athletic department has not revealed the number of positive tests specific to the football program this fall.

Michigan also had its players and coaches work virtually on Tuesday and players were not made available to the media on Monday or Tuesday, as has been the custom this season.

The Wolverines (2-4) have two games remaining in the 2020 regular season: at Ohio State on Dec. 12 and the divisional crossover game on Dec. 19.

“Daily testing will continue and medical professionals will make a determination when to resume practice,” the program stated in the release. “The earliest practice can resume will be Monday, Dec. 7.”

– Detroit Free Press (TNS)