Milton tests negative for the coronavirus
UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton tested negative for coronavirus after a health scare, according to an ESPN report that examined the challenges colleges will face testing athletes.
Milton, who has remained in Orlando and has worked out on the UCF campus while going through rehabilitation for a catastrophic knee injury, told ESPN he got a sore throat and a fever about a week ago. He stayed home instead of doing his daily workouts and went to UCF’s drive-up COVID-19 testing site. The next day, Milton learned his test was negative and he resumed workouts after his fever and other symptoms subsided.
“I would have felt bad if I was around people and was sick and the possibility of our physical therapy having to get quarantined because of me,” Milton told ESPN.
UCF is among the schools expected to resume workouts after the NCAA cleared schools to conduct voluntary workouts when the activities are allowed under local and state rules.
Milton said the Knights who are recovering from injuries and were exempt from stay-at-home orders get their temperatures checked when they arrive on campus daily, wear masks during weight room workouts, and maintain distance between each other. In addition, all equipment is sanitized after it is used.
He also has worked out on outdoor fields with current and former UCF football players, wowing fans by dropping deep passes to receivers. None of the players were wearing masks in the videos shared on social media.
Milton previously told reporters he was making such great progress, he thought there was a 50-50 chance he might be able to play football during the 2020 season. It was a remarkable recovery for an athlete whose leg was nearly amputated after a gruesome tackle.
It turns out recovery from the knee injury is not the only hurdle Milton will have to clear to resume play.
Dr. Raul Pino, the Orange County health officer, confirmed for the Orlando Magic the region has ample tests and anyone without symptoms in the community can be tested, so the team should feel free to test its players and staff as much as needed to resume individual workouts.
The Magic, Orlando Pride and Orlando
City all are doing those workouts, and public gyms around the state also are free to operate while following safety guidelines.
While some college leaders argue they would prefer to see athletes work out in more controlled oncampus environments where coronavirus precautions are followed aggressively rather than in public gyms with less structure, there is still concern about access to the volume of tests that might be needed to resume playing football with or without fans.
Milton told ESPN the nasal coronavirus test he took caused his eyes to water and was terrible, but players are willing to follow any instructions.
“We definitely want it to be a safe environment for everybody. And whatever our ADs, our conference commissioners, the NCAA feels is the bestcase scenario to get us back out there, we’ll roll with that,” Milton told ESPN. “Whatever precautions we need to take while being at school, whether it’s having smaller workout groups, whether it’s having noncontact practices, we’ll see.
“It’s going to be a different world we live in. And it’s not just for football; it’s for everybody. This is bigger than football, whether we have a season or not. Obviously, I’d love to have a football season. It’s something the country can use right now.”