Usc-colorado canceled over virus cases
LOS ANGELES — No. 18 Southern California’s scheduled home game Saturday against unbeaten Colorado has been canceled because of positive COVID-19 tests for the Trojans.
Colorado (2-0) immediately booked a replacement game against San Diego State in Boulder on Saturday afternoon.
In a statement Thursday night, the Pac-12 said USC (3-0) didn’t have the minimum number of scholarship players available at a specific position group as a result of at least two positive COVID-19 cases and the resulting isolation of additional players under contact tracing protocols.
The Trojans haven’t identified the position or the players involved.
Colorado moved quickly to secure another game against Aztecs, whose game against Fresno State scheduled for Friday was canceled last Sunday because of positive tests for the Bulldogs.
USC canceled practice earlier Thursday for the second time in three days while awaiting test results for a player exhibiting COVID-19 illness symptoms.
USC also held its team activities virtually Tuesday after a player who had traveled to the Trojans’ win at Utah last weekend tested positive for COVID. Another player tested positive Wednesday before USC held its normal practice, and five additional players were quarantined because of contact tracing.
The Trojans haven’t said which players are involved, but coach Clay Helton confirmed they include starters.
USC’S next game is scheduled for Dec. 4 at the Coliseum against Washington State.
Vanderbilt ponders using a female kicker
A week after she helped the Vanderbilt women’s soccer team win the SEC tournament, Sarah Fuller is an “option” to kick for the football team Saturday, something that would make her the first woman to suit up for a Power Five conference team.
Fuller, a senior goalkeeper from Wylie, was in uniform as the team practiced for its nextto-last game of the year. Vanderbilt is 0-7 and shorthanded with several special-teams players in COVID-19 quarantine ahead of the game against Missouri.
Fuller was a logical choice, according to Commodores football coach Derek Mason, and her soccer season ended last week.
“Talking to Sarah, she’s a champ. No pun intended,” Mason said Wednesday. “… She’s a complete competitor. She’s an option for us and, right now, that’s where we sit.”
The school newspaper reported that she was in full pads and uniform but did not kick Tuesday. She went through walkthroughs with coaches and at least one kicking specialist on the sideline.
Fuller appeared in nine games in goal, making 28 saves for the 8-4 Commodores. She had three saves last weekend in Vanderbilt’s 3-1 upset of top-seeded Arkansas in the SEC title game.