Houston’s virus issues continue with Tulsa game off
HOUSTON — The University of Houston football program will be sidelined for a second straight weekend because of coronavirus issues.
The American Athletic Conference said Tuesday that positive COVID-19 cases within the Houston program and ensuing contact tracing had forced it to postpone Saturday's game between the Cougars and No. 24 Tulsa at TDECU Stadium.
The decision comes a week after UH stopped all full-team activities because players tested positive for the virus.
This marks the fifth game this season to be canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 issues. UH had season openers against Baylor and North Texas canceled and games against SMU, Memphis and Tulsa postponed.
Now, UH will go at least 21 days between the Nov. 14 final home game against South Florida and next game Dec. 5 at SMU.
In a statement, the AAC said the game may be rescheduled Dec. 19, if neither team is playing in the league championship game.
Cincinnati (6-0) and Tulsa (5-0) currently lead the conference standings followed by SMU at 4-2. At 3-2 in league play, the Cougars are still in contention for a spot in the championship game.
Minnesota, ASU lose games to virus
Minnesota is calling off its scheduled game Saturday at Wisconsin due to positive COVID-19 cases within its program, a move that likely knocks the 18th-ranked Badgers out of consideration for the Big Ten championship game. The game won't be rescheduled.
Big Ten protocols this season say teams must play at least six games to be eligible for the league championship game. Wisconsin (2-1) has only two games remaining on its schedule and won't reach that six-game minimum after an outbreak caused the Badgers to call off games with Nebraska and Purdue.
Utah's game with Arizona State scheduled for Sunday also was canceled because the Sun Devils still don't have enough scholarship players after having numerous positive COVID-19 cases, in
cluding coach Herm Edwards.
Instead, Utah will play Saturday at Washington, which earlier this week had its game against Washington State canceled.
Swinney still fuming at FSU postponement
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney remains frustrated about postponing the Tigers game against Florida State, a decision he sees as an insult to his program's credibility.
While the Tigers' players and staff have apparently turned the page, it not quite as easy for Swinney, who touts a “windshield mentality,“to let go of how the game was called off.
When asked about the decision again Tuesday, Swinney dug in once more.
“I know what the rules are, I know what they were and I know we met the standard to play,” he said. “And we didn't play.”
The spat started when an unidentified Clemson reserve offensive lineman had a positive test result on Friday after the team had flown to Tallahassee, Fla., for the game.
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced the postponement Saturday morning saying medical advisors from both could could not agree it was safe to play.
Seminoles coach Mike Norvell weighed in Monday, saying the right decision was made in calling things off.
“Football coaches are not doctors, some of us might think that we are,” Norvell said.
Swinney, asked about Norvell's comment, kept the back-andforth going Tuesday.
“I'm not a doctor, I'm just trying to listen to the doctors,” Swinney said. “Listen, I'm not really worried about what they say down there in Tallahassee, that's for sure. I've been in this league 18 years, head coach here 12. They've had three head coaches in four years.
“I'm not going worry about the advice from Tallahassee. I trust the people here. I trust our doctors, 100 percent.”
Odds and ends
No. 19 Southern California closed its training complex after an unidentified player tested positive for COVID-19. The Trojans are scheduled to play host to Colorado on Saturday. …
The UAB-Southern Mississippi game scheduled for Friday has been canceled because of COVID-19 issues within the Golden Eagles' program.