23 clemson football players/staff test positive for COVID-19

[jimsumner]

https://www.si.com/college/2020/06/19/clemson-athletics-coronavirus-tests-positive

I realize I could have bundled this into an existing thread but the magnitude is so stunning I thought it deserved its own thread, at least for awhile

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

https://www.si.com/college/2020/06/19/clemson-athletics-coronavirus-tests-positive

I realize I could have bundled this into an existing thread but the magnitude is so stunning I thought it deserved its own thread, at least for awhile

This doesn't bode well for the likelihood of sports returning on schedule.

[Bob Green]

This breaking news definitely deserves its own thread. My optimism for a 2020 college football season is very low.

[camion]

This doesn't bode well for the likelihood of sports returning on schedule.

I am not surprised this happened somewhere. I am a bit surprised it happened so soon. I was expecting things to percolate for awhile before a serious outbreak on a team was found.

Also, Clemson is a bit close, just down the road from Greenville county which is itself percolating right along.

[CameronBornAndBred]

This breaking news definitely deserves its own thread. My optimism for a 2020 college football season is very low.

It ain't gonna happen.

10924

[cato]

This doesn't bode well for the likelihood of sports returning on schedule.

Playing football before enough people have achieved some immunity has always struck me as magical thinking. It will be very interesting to watch how this plays out.

Our kids are still young, but we are not close to getting them back to in-person sports with large teams.

[OldPhiKap]

Playing football before enough people have achieved some immunity has always struck me as magical thinking. It will be very interesting to watch how this plays out.

Our kids are still young, but we are not close to getting them back to in-person sports with large teams.

10925

[cato]

10925

Someone spork this man!

[OldPhiKap]

10926

[roywhite]

From the SI article:

The athletic department said most of the total cases have been asymptomatic.

Is this really a game changer, or season changing event?

[jimsumner]

From the SI article:

The athletic department said most of the total cases have been asymptomatic.

Is this really a game changer, or season changing event?

Two points.

1.Most isn't all.

2.Asymptomatic players can transmit this to coaches, staff, professors and officials, who might not be able to so easily shrug this off.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Two points.

1.Most isn't all.

2.Asymptomatic players can transmit this to coaches, staff, professors, boosters and officials, who might not be able to so easily shrug this off.

You forgot another important group...

[jimsumner]

You forgot another important group...

I also left off media.

[Tripping William]

I will be very interested in Dabo’s response.

[sagegrouse]

115 players listed on Clemson roster -- 20 percent.

[buddy]

As a society we should be able to develop a system to quarantine high risk individuals and permit those with low to no risk to continue normal life. But we are not that intelligent.

[rsvman]

As a society we should be able to develop a system to quarantine high risk individuals and permit those with low to no risk to continue normal life. But we are not that intelligent.

It is not a matter of intelligence, but rather one of logistics and cooperation. It is, on its face, a lot more difficult than you seem to think it is, and it would require a large percentage of the people to agree to live and act in a certain way, which, as we have seen, is like herding cats.

[Barnstormer]

A positive way of looking at is that all 23 maybe well and immune from further corona virus attacks by middle of July and ready to play and probably not transmitting the virus by that time.

[chrishoke]

UNC has the solution. They have announced that they will not be releasing ANY information about positive tests.

[budwom]

Schools will contort themselves to rationalize playing, because they're addicted to the TV money. I fear science takes a back seat on this one.

[AustinDevil]

UNC has the solution. They have announced that they will not be releasing ANY information about positive tests.

The Carolina Way. I heard some SEC school(s) made the same announcement. Tennessee, maybe?

[Dr. Rosenrosen]

As a society we should be able to develop a system to quarantine high risk individuals and permit those with low to no risk to continue normal life. But we are not that intelligent.
This is incredibly offensive. An aggressively policy focused statement like this has no place on this board.

[OldPhiKap]

UNC has the solution. They have announced that they will not be releasing ANY information about positive tests.

Better yet, they won’t make any of the athletes take a test at all. Just like academics.

[rsvman]

Better yet, they won’t make any of the athletes take a test at all. Just like academics.

Not to worry. Tests will not be available for any of the regular students, either. In other words, this lack of testing is equally available, so it is not a problem.

[CameronBornAndBred]

UNC has the solution. They have announced that they will not be releasing ANY information about positive tests.

Well they've never been to keen on releasing info about negative testing either, so might as well keep it square.

[Neals384]

UNC has the solution. They have announced that they will not be releasing ANY information about positive tests.

Well, duh. If no one takes tests there are no results to release.

[dukelifer]

UNC has the solution. They have announced that they will not be releasing ANY information about positive tests.

Surprised they are even having their athletes take tests- that seems to be a reversal of a long standing policy at UNC.

[dukelifer]

Two points.

1.Most isn't all.

2.Asymptomatic players can transmit this to coaches, staff, professors and officials, who might not be able to so easily shrug this off.

This is sign of things to come on college campuses come Fall. This virus spreads easily and believe it or not- college kids do not always follow the rules.

[DukieInKansas]

This is sign of things to come on college campuses come Fall. This virus spreads easily and believe it or not- college kids do not always follow the rules.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner.

[camion]

This is sign of things to come on college campuses come Fall. This virus spreads easily and believe it or not- college kids do not always follow the rules.

I am shocked! SHOCKED I say!!!

[arnie]

Surprised they are even having their athletes take tests- that seems to be a reversal of a long standing policy at UNC.

They figured out a way to give each athlete A negative test result without them showing up for the test.

[budwom]

Let the "our student athletes are our top priority" contortions begin. Pinocchio would be proud. They'll find a way to "safely" play even if people die from it.

[Pghdukie]

Bleacher Report is saying LSU has 30 players under quarantine.

[Bob Green]

Bleacher Report is saying LSU has 30 players under quarantine.

Here is a link to Sports Illustrated reporting the same:

https://www.si.com/college/2020/06/20/lsu-football-players-quarantined-coronavirus

[Tripping William]

Here is a link to Sports Illustrated reporting the same:

https://www.si.com/college/2020/06/20/lsu-football-players-quarantined-coronavirus


Bleacher Report is saying LSU has 30 players under quarantine.

It’s like the national title game all over again.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

It’s like the national title game all over again.

Someone needs to remind them that this is like golf where the lowest score wins.

When they came back to school did they do any testing before they started interacting? One would have thought they would have all been tested a few days before returning. This would not have prevented an outbreak but it would have helped.

[Tripping William]

Someone needs to remind them that this is like golf where the lowest score wins.

When they came back to school did they do any testing before they started interacting? One would have thought they would have all been tested a few days before returning. This would not have prevented an outbreak but it would have helped.

So much winning. We’ll kick it in the teeth one of these days. I’m told.

[ncexnyc]

UNC has the solution. They have announced that they will not be releasing ANY information about positive tests.
And here I thought you were going to say it was ok, because the virus was available to all students.

[budwom]

as predicted earlier, watch out for the shenanigans...UCLA players demanding an independent third party oversee their health because they don't trust their coach:https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2020-06-19/ucla-football-players-demand-protections-amid-pandemic-return

Can't wait to see the booga booga UCLA rolls out to counter this...IMO this is just the wee tip of the iceberg...

[camion]

as predicted earlier, watch out for the shenanigans...UCLA players demanding an independent third party oversee their health because they don't trust their coach:https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2020-06-19/ucla-football-players-demand-protections-amid-pandemic-return

Can't wait to see the booga booga UCLA rolls out to counter this...IMO this is just the wee tip of the iceberg...

What if the players vow to give their coaches a nice big hug and kiss on the cheek after every practice?

Wouldn't such a show of affection incentivize the coaches to ensure the health of their players? :)

[bundabergdevil]

as predicted earlier, watch out for the shenanigans...UCLA players demanding an independent third party oversee their health because they don't trust their coach:https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2020-06-19/ucla-football-players-demand-protections-amid-pandemic-return

Can't wait to see the booga booga UCLA rolls out to counter this...IMO this is just the wee tip of the iceberg...

Don't blame them. Enough coaches and programs have shown enough times they have little regard for the safety of their kids/players that I wouldn't trust the staff either. Not all coaches and programs obviously but enough.

[4Gen]

Duke didn't bring a team to the ACC tournament. Duke has been on the forefront of preventing contagion among its students. This may result from the influence of its world class scientists and physicians; its genuine concern; and more cynically, its deep pockets not necessitating sports receipts to survive. Anyway, I will be quite surprised if Duke fields fall teams this year

[budwom]

Don't blame them. Enough coaches and programs have shown enough times they have little regard for the safety of their kids/players that I wouldn't trust the staff either. Not all coaches and programs obviously but enough.

I certainly wasn't blaming them in the least. Hope I didn't imply that.

A real bellwether (for me anyway) will be what the Ivies do about football, since they aren't addicted to TV money like FBS teams are...

[bundabergdevil]

I certainly wasn't blaming them in the least. Hope I didn't imply that.

A real bellwether (for me anyway) will be what the Ivies do about football, since they aren't addicted to TV money like FBS teams are...

Oh no, not saying you did. I just read the article and thought “good for them”. Do t trust anyone with your health unless you’re sure of their motives.

[devildeac]

Football season played this year with all the players wearing visors/face shields?

https://www.highgroundsports.com/best-football-visors/

I'm not advocating this, simply showing a possibility, no matter how unlikely it may be.

[uh_no]

Duke didn't bring a team to the ACC tournament. Duke has been on the forefront of preventing contagion among its students. This may result from the influence of its world class scientists and physicians; its genuine concern; and more cynically, its deep pockets not necessitating sports receipts to survive. Anyway, I will be quite surprised if Duke fields fall teams this year

for better or worse, I suppose that the lawyers and accountants have almost as much say as the scientists, even at duke. If duke isn't playing sports this year, ESPECIALLY basketball, the athletics deficit will pale in comparison to the lost marketing.

The 16 million stipend, or whatever the university kicks in, for athletics is a steal for the amount of publicity that it drives, as well as the the subsequent alumni engagement, merchandising, and donations.

I'm not suggesting that playing would be the right call in the least....just that I find it unlikely that the well endowed nature of the university suggests that Duke will put any less weight on the views of the non-doctor-y people. If it were wholly up to the doctors, I'm sure Duke would be taking the Califonia route and have already declared an off-campus fall semester. It didn't though...likely because as such a small school Duke can't afford to have a massive number of people take some "time off," and the majority of schools who are having students return makes it less of a liability should something happen.

I assume the decision for fall sports will be similar. What are the financial impacts of playing or not? What are the liabilities should program members get sick? Can we do this in a way that largely protects our students? Who wants to bet athletes end up in the housing the university secured at the WaDuke to ensure they are almost entirely isolated from the rest of the population?

[CameronBornAndBred]

for better or worse, I suppose that the lawyers and accountants have almost as much say as the scientists, even at duke. If duke isn't playing sports this year, ESPECIALLY basketball, the athletics deficit will pale in comparison to the lost marketing.


I was wondering if your caps key wasn't working...and then found it was. (Way off topic of course, but I'm gonna nitpick anyone who chooses to cap a whole word over the name of the school we are all here for.)

[uh_no]

I was wondering if your caps key wasn't working...and then found it was. (Way off topic of course, but I'm gonna nitpick anyone who chooses to cap a whole word over the name of the school we are all here for.)

Which is of course, an ad-hominem argument.

If we want to go down that route, I wondered if you are unaware of the distinction between a period and an ellipsis, given you typed three of the former when the latter would have been appropriate.

…
vs
...

(alt-0133 on windows)

Or perhaps the university attempted to sue me for copyright infringement for capitalizing it…it seems en-vogue.

[duke96]

Which is of course, an ad-hominem argument.

If we want to go down that route, I wondered if you are unaware of the distinction between a period and an ellipsis, given you typed three of the former when the latter would have been appropriate.

…
vs
...

(alt-0133 on windows)

Or perhaps the university attempted to sue me for copyright infringement for capitalizing it…it seems en-vogue.

Grab your slide rules, it's a nerd fight!

[CameronBornAndBred]

Which is of course, an ad-hominem argument.

If we want to go down that route, I wondered if you are unaware of the distinction between a period and an ellipsis, given you typed three of the former when the latter would have been appropriate.

…
vs
...

(alt-0133 on windows)

Or perhaps the university attempted to sue me for copyright infringement for capitalizing it…it seems en-vogue.


Grab your slide rules, it's a nerd fight!
Hehe! And yes I'm aware of the use of a period, an ellipsis, and even a semi-colon! I don't know why, but I just love those three dots.
...
...
...

Ahhhhh, that felt good. :p

[OldPhiKap]

Someone slanders the Oxford Comma, and I’m gonna cut somebody.

Govern yourselves accordingly.

[jimsumner]

our THREADS do tend to go in weird tangets: but I wouldn't have expected this . . . one; maybe,, another ONE?

[OldPhiKap]

our THREADS do tend to go in weird tangets: but I wouldn't have expected this . . . one; maybe,, another ONE?

Literally, this.

[uh_no]

Hehe! And yes I'm aware of the use of a period, an ellipsis, and even a semi-colon! I don't know why, but I just love those three dots.
...
...
...

Ahhhhh, that felt good. :p


our THREADS do tend to go in weird tangets: but I wouldn't have expected this . . . one; maybe,, another ONE?


Literally, this.

<3 DBR.

Hope y'all are staying healthy.

[johnb]

We can wish for the football season to start all we want, but the season and this sentence will never happily

[Pghdukie]

Its being reported by numerous outlets that Clemson now has 37 players testing positive for coronavirus.

[JasonEvans]

Its being reported by numerous outlets that Clemson now has 37 players testing positive for coronavirus.

Well on their way to herd immunity for the football team. Then they can travel anywhere and play anyone and not worry about it. Dabo must be so proud.

[superdave]

Well on their way to herd immunity for the football team. Then they can travel anywhere and play anyone and not worry about it. Dabo must be so proud.

Any hospitalizations?

[thedukelamere]

Well on their way to herd immunity for the football team. Then they can travel anywhere and play anyone and not worry about it. Dabo must be so proud.

I thought the same thing Jason.. how many rabid SEC football fans are actively hoping their entire squad gets it so this exact scenario plays out? Kinda reminds me of having chickenpox parties back in the day to get infected and over it.

[chris13]

Its being reported by numerous outlets that Clemson now has 37 players testing positive for coronavirus.

As long as they have more than Alabama I'm sure Dabo is happy.

[duke2x]

Any hospitalizations? None reported. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29371568/14-players-test-positive-coronavirus


I thought the same thing Jason.. how many rabid SEC football fans are actively hoping their entire squad gets it so this exact scenario plays out? Kinda reminds me of having chickenpox parties back in the day to get infected and over it.

People were having COVID parties in NC a couple months ago before Governor Cooper correctly criticized the practice. I don't see student-athlete COVID parties in the near future.

[uh_no]

None reported. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29371568/14-players-test-positive-coronavirus



People were having COVID parties in NC a couple months ago before Governor Cooper correctly criticized the practice. I don't see student-athlete COVID parties in the near future.

i just see student-athlete regular parties. the kind all the ugrads will have hen they're back on campus regardless of supposed rules.

[DukieInKansas]

i just see student-athlete regular parties. the kind all the ugrads will have hen they're back on campus regardless of supposed rules.

This - they did what college kids do . My guess is Dabo isn't very happy with them for risking their health.

[dukelifer]

Well on their way to herd immunity for the football team. Then they can travel anywhere and play anyone and not worry about it. Dabo must be so proud.

This is very much a way to get there. It was used long ago to be able to work in South during outbreaks of Yellow Fever. If you could show immunity you would be hired. The difference here is that Covid 19 is significantly less dangerous than Yellow Fever which killed about 10-30% of those infected. As long as these kids are isolated from an elderly population and are getting health care- they may be at much more risk of serious harm by playing football than from getting this virus. That is what the data shows. Yes there are risks here, but with a population that is already accepting other risks. The key thing to watch is whether these kids are having to do this against their will- that is, are they being told directly or indirectly that their scholarships will be pulled if they fail to practice. That is a very big deal.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

This is very much a way to get there. It was used long ago to be able to work in South during outbreaks of Yellow Fever. If you could show immunity you would be hired. The difference here is that Covid 19 is significantly less dangerous than Yellow Fever which killed about 10-30% of those infected. As long as these kids are isolated from an elderly population and are getting health care- they may be at much more risk of serious harm by playing football than from getting this virus. That is what the data shows. Yes there are risks here, but with a population that is already accepting other risks. The key thing to watch is whether these kids are having to do this against their will- that is, are they being told directly or indirectly that their scholarships will be pulled if they fail to practice. That is a very big deal.

Well, another difference is that it is still very unknown whether you can get it again. Which is a pretty important detail.

[chrishoke]

Well, another difference is that it is still very unknown whether you can get it again. Which is a pretty important detail.

Another confounding factor is that it is still unknown what long term effects the virus may have on the body, particularly your lungs.

[rsvman]

Not to mention that until the percentage of people who have had it gets much higher, a large part of positive antibody tests will be false positives.

[dukelifer]

Well, another difference is that it is still very unknown whether you can get it again. Which is a pretty important detail.

Yes- that remains a big unknown- but no vaccine is 100% effective and may not offer more than short term immunity for those who get it. Definitely much more to learn here.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Yes- that remains a big unknown- but no vaccine is 100% effective and may not offer more than short term immunity for those who get it. Definitely much more to learn here.

Yes. Though, if a vaccine bought even just 18 months of immunity, it would allow us to get ahead of this thing. Assuming people would accept it.

[Skydog]

Yes. Though, if a vaccine bought even just 18 months of immunity, it would allow us to get ahead of this thing. Assuming people would accept it.

I would! Me! Me!

[Namtilal]

Yes- that remains a big unknown- but no vaccine is 100% effective and may not offer more than short term immunity for those who get it. Definitely much more to learn here.

Add to that, there are estimates that up to a third of all Americans will refuse to be vaccinated. This might make the vaccines next to worthless and ensure that the virus is a permanent resident.

[sagegrouse]

Add to that, there are estimates that up to a third of all Americans will refuse to be vaccinated. This might make the vaccines next to worthless and ensure that the virus is a permanent resident.

It will be interesting to see what kind of sanctions will be levied against those who refuse a COVID-19 vaccination. and how much guts the individual states have.

Funny thing with respect to school-age vaccinations, the state with the toughest standards for public school students was Mississippi -- "no exceptions."

[Namtilal]

It will be interesting to see what kind of sanctions will be levied against those who refuse a COVID-19 vaccination. and how much guts the individual states have.

Funny thing with respect to school-age vaccinations, the state with the toughest standards for public school students was Mississippi -- "no exceptions."

My non-religious sister in Massachusetts only had to check the box 'religious exemption' to allow her unvaccinated children to attend public school. That loophole might have to change.

[sagegrouse]

My non-religious sister in Massachusetts only had to check the box 'religious exemption' to allow her unvaccinated children to attend public school. That loophole might have to change.

California was a real problem, so I hear. But the measles epidemic emanating from Disneyland changed a lot of minds.

[sagegrouse]

California was a real problem, so I hear. But the measles epidemic emanating from Disneyland changed a lot of minds.

Here is a link from the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/schoolvaxview/data-reports/coverage-trend/index.html) for vaccinations for Kindergarten-age children by state. Colorado appears to be the worst at 87.4 -- Mississippi the highest at 99.2.

On further inspection, Alaska, which had only voluntary reporting, had a rate of about 84 percent -- could be, I suppose, much lower.

[tommy]

Well on their way to herd immunity for the football team. Then they can travel anywhere and play anyone and not worry about it. Dabo must be so proud.

Seems like your comment was tongue in cheek, but perhaps it shouldn't be. I smell a rat.

I"m not saying they WANTED their guys to get the virus now, but let's think about this. Of the pretty small number of schools that have reported very high numbers of football players testing positive, three of them are Alabama, LSU, and Clemson. Those are the three top programs in the nation, or certainly three of the top four along with Ohio State. What are the chances that of all the schools that have begun practices, the three top teams are three of the small number that have come up with a lot of players testing positive? Pretty small chance in my opinion. Again, I'm not saying these schools intentionally got their kids sick, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised if they were pretty lax about their safety protocols, with their at least being some discussion behind the scenes to the effect of "if they all just get the virus now, that's fine, cuz everyone's gonna end up getting it anyway. They're all young and otherwise healthy, so they're at a tiny, tiny risk of something like death. Let them get it, get over it, and be ready to play football again in a couple of weeks, and ready for the season." These schools NEED to play football. More than most everyone else.

Maybe I'm way off on this, but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility.

[uh_no]

Seems like your comment was tongue in cheek, but perhaps it shouldn't be. I smell a rat.

I"m not saying they WANTED their guys to get the virus now, but let's think about this. Of the pretty small number of schools that have reported very high numbers of football players testing positive, three of them are Alabama, LSU, and Clemson. Those are the three top programs in the nation, or certainly three of the top four along with Ohio State. What are the chances that of all the schools that have begun practices, the three top teams are three of the small number that have come up with a lot of players testing positive? Pretty small chance in my opinion. Again, I'm not saying these schools intentionally got their kids sick, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised if they were pretty lax about their safety protocols, with their at least being some discussion behind the scenes to the effect of "if they all just get the virus now, that's fine, cuz everyone's gonna end up getting it anyway. They're all young and otherwise healthy, so they're at a tiny, tiny risk of something like death. Let them get it, get over it, and be ready to play football again in a couple of weeks, and ready for the season." These schools NEED to play football. More than most everyone else.

Maybe I'm way off on this, but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility.

i find it more likely to be a reporting/perception bias. The media are more likely to report on the big teams, and you're more likely to remember reading about cases on the big teams.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are similar outbreaks at other schools, and it's just not being picked up on.

[duke2x]

i just see student-athlete regular parties. the kind all the ugrads will have hen they're back on campus regardless of supposed rules.

I can't find a nonpartisan link that I can post here, but how about undergrad COVID exposure parties complete with gambling? If you get COVID first, you win the kitty. This is only at Alabama, but I'm sure Auburn, LSU, and Clemson students are watching.