LSU football team has virus outbreak

WASHINGTON As college football players begin to trickle back to campuses for voluntary summer workouts, multiple programs are dealing with outbreaks of the novel coronavirus, which had shut down sports in the U.S. for months.

Most notably, Louisiana State University, the reigning national champion, had at least a quarter of its roster — 30 of 115 players — in quarantine because of virus-related concerns, according to Sports Illustrated, with that number remaining fluid based on test results.

LSU senior associate athletic director Shelly Mullenix, in an interview with SI, declined to reveal the exact figures for players who have or had been quarantined, but she said the numbers were in line with the national rise in cases from late May and mass protests.

“It’s not surprising we’re seeing the rise right now,” Mullenix said. “It’s a pandemic. We should not be shocked. The story is that it’s exactly what we said it would be. We were prepared from the get-go for a lot of virus (cases). The good news is we’re seeing subtle virus illness.”

No player or staff member has required hospitalization, SI reported, and only a few have experienced anything other than mild symptoms.

An undisclosed number of players are in quarantine after visiting nightclubs near campus in an area known as Tigerland. State health officials Friday announced more than 100 Tigerland bar patrons had tested positive and warned other bar-goers to isolate for at least 14 days.

Some infected or potentially infected players, according to SI, are continuing to participate in outdoor workouts with their quarantine group.

Other schools reported to have athletes and/or staff members with positive tests since June 1, when voluntary on-campus workouts were allowed to begin in football and men’s and women’s basketball, following NCAA approval:

Alabama: Eight football players tested positive, according to SI, over two rounds of testing, the first of which was conducted June 5.

Arkansas State: Seven athletes in three sports tested positive early this month, the school announced, and all were in quarantine for 14 days without symptoms.

Auburn: Three football players tested positive, according to WSFA.

Central Florida: Three of the 60 players who went back to campus early this month tested positive, the school announced.

Clemson: The school, in a release Friday, announced 23 football players had tested positive, the same day South Carolina.