Notre Dame postpones football game at Wake Forest this week due to COVID-19
Saturday’s Notre Dame game at Wake Forest has been postponed and Notre Dame has paused all football-related activities due to COVID-19.
The school reported seven positive tests (out of 94 administered) with an additional six players put in isolation because of contact tracing.
“We knew COVID would present challenges throughout the season,” coach Brian Kelly said in a statement, “and we’ll always put student-athlete health and safety at the forefront of our decision-making.”
This marks the 16th game postponed this season in college football.
Both Notre Dame (2-0) and Wake Forest (1-1) have an open date Oct. 3.
When Kelly said Monday his team’s COVID-19 plan was “an evolving situation,” he was not kidding.
The Irish began Tuesday by canceling practice, as first reported by Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel, ater four players tested positive last week and another six were quarantined. And then came the news of the postponed game.
None of those 10 played in Notre Dame’s 52-0 dismantling of South Florida on Saturday.
The Irish were scheduled to leave Friday for Winston-salem, N.C., for their first road trip of
not announced when fans will be permitted.
Raymond James Stadium received approximately $10.4 million in federal funding through the CARES (Coronavirus
Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act for upgrades and safety enhancements. The modifications, everything from touch-free toilets and sinks, hand sanitizing stations and signs, were about 75% complete going into this season.
Safety for fans, players and staff will be the biggest priority for Super Bowl 55, Barker said.
“The league over the last few months has done all the work necessary to get all our clubs and teams up and ready for the season and we’re going to apply the same thinking as we approach Super Bowl,” he said. “Working in accordance with infectious disease experts, our own medical experts, the CDC, local health here in Hillsborough County, making sure everything that we do is in compliance with
CDC guidelines first and foremost.
“But it’s also important to understand the safety of our fans, the safety of our vendors and volunteers and everybody who’s going
to work the Super Bowl and come to the Super Bowl, is paramount to our success. That’s why we’re taking all the necessarily precautions to make sure the Super Bowl is done in a very safe way.”
Barker acknowledged that COVID-19 could significantly reduce the economic impact of hosting a Super Bowl locally.
“Certainly, the economic impact is important and it’s 100s of millions of dollars,” Barker said. “... To be able to qualify that number for you today is impossible to do.”
Barker and Ewell said it was important to tour the stadium and meet with local authorities after holding virtual meetings since March.