UW’s coronavirus case count rises to 22
MADISON – The number of coronavirus cases within the University of Wisconsin football program continues to rise, increasing the chances that UW may face a second cancellation.
“I just got a report this morning, today we are at 10 staff, 12 players, a total of 22,” UW athletic director Barry Alvarez said Saturday on ESPN’s “College GameDay.” “So we are still having additions in our cases, and that’s something we have to get our arms around and control of.”
On Thursday, UW officials reported a total of 16 cases, eight players and eight staffers.
The Badgers opened the season Oct. 23 with a 45-7 victory over Illinois. A spike in cases after that game led UW officials to cancel their game against Nebraska that was to be played Saturday.
UW is scheduled to host Purdue on Nov. 7.
Based on information released by UW, 21 of the 22 cases have been detected since the day after the victory over Illinois. That includes head coach Paul Chryst, who must remain in isolation through Friday.
Coaches who test positive must be in isolation for 10 days. Players aren’t able to return until the 21st day from their positive diagnosis.
Even if UW officials try to hold the
game against Purdue, the team will not be allowed to resume practice until Wednesday.
Illinois played Purdue on Saturday but Illini officials listed 14 players unavailable for the game. Quarterback Brandon Peters and tight end Griffin Moore have tested positive for coronavirus.
It is too early to know how Wisconsin’s numbers will affect UW’s chances to participate in the Big Ten title game.
How would a second cancellation affect UW in the Big Ten West Division race? According to the league, a team must play at least six games to be considered for participation in the championship game.
However, if the average number of conference games played by all teams falls below six, with the average rounded up/down at 0.50 (6.50 or greater would round up to 7.0 and 6.49 or less would round down to 6.0), then teams must play no less than two fewer conference games than the average number of conference games played by all teams.
Public Health Madison & Dane County reported Sept. 16 there had been 42 cases involving the UW football team, spanning from the first week of June through Sept. 15. Twenty-nine of those cases occurred from
Sept. 1 through Sept. 15.
With 22 active cases, UW is near 70 known cases since testing began in June.
How does that compare to what other programs have endured? According to reports:
Texas Tech had 75 cases from June through mid-September.
LSU coach Ed Ogeron told reporters in September that most of the team had contracted the virus at some point.
Baylor, coached by former UW assistant Dave Aranda, suspended all team activities Oct. 8 after 28 players and 14 staffers tested positive.
“It was a bit of a surprise, but it’s the world we’re living in right now,” Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades told reporters at the time.
The Bears’ Sept. 12 season opener was canceled after 38 Louisiana Tech players reportedly tested positive.
Florida coach Dan Mullen announced on Oct. 17 he had tested positive. That announcement came the day the Gators had been scheduled to host LSU and after the team had at least two dozen positive tests.
The LSU game was postponed, as was Florida’s Oct. 24 game against Missouri. Those teams were scheduled to play Saturday night in Gainesville, Florida.
Vanderbilt had to reschedule a game against Missouri because it had so many positive cases it couldn’t meet the SEC’s required minimum of 53 scholarship players.