Kansas coach Miles cleared of virus
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas coach Les Miles has been cleared to return to the Jayhawks after his positive test for COVID-19, but out of caution is skipping the team’s trip to West Virginia for Saturday’s game.
The 66-year-old Miles announced last week that routine testing had returned a positive test. He experienced only mild symptoms while he was quarantining, and he was able to work remotely with the Jayhawks during their bye week. Miles said he made the “difficult decision” after conferring with the school’s medical team, coaching staff and administration.
“While my 10-day window was completed this morning, there is too much still unknown about this virus for me to feel 100 percent confident that I won’t transmit it to someone who comes into close contact with me,” he said.
Also Friday, Southern Mississippi at UTEP became the sixth game scheduled for Saturday to be postponed this week.
Southern Miss announced an increase in positive COVID19 test results in the program forced the postponement the schools and Conference USA would work to reschedule.
Earlier in the week C-USA announced it was pushing back the date of its conference championship game to Dec. 18. There have been 32 games involving FBS teams canceled or postponed since Aug. 26.
The Southeastern Conference postponed next week’s game between Missouri and No. 10 Florida on Friday, the third league contest moved this week. The Gators had at least 21 players and coaches test positive for the coronavirus and dozens more quarantined because of contract tracing. That left them with fewer than the conference-mandated 53 scholarship players available Saturday against defending national champion LSU.
Because of the SEC’s safety protocols, Florida likely would not have gotten everyone back in time to practice and prepare for Mizzou. So the Gators will get consecutive weeks off before hosting Missouri on Oct. 31. Missouri had been scheduled to host Kentucky that day, but they will now play Oct. 24. Kentucky was scheduled to play at Georgia that day, but it moves to Halloween.