Every
morning,
the
Michigan
Every
morning,
the
Michigan
football team comes in to get tested
football team comes in to get tested
for COVID-19. They get a nasal swab
for COVID-19. They get a nasal swab
and then wait 15 nerve-wracking
and then wait 15 nerve-wracking
minutes for the results.
minutes for the results.
With the season on the horizon,
With the season on the horizon,
players must test every day, with
players must test every day, with
negative tests required to practice,
negative tests required to practice,
travel or play. But according to fifth-
travel or play. But according to fifth-
year senior linebacker Josh Ross, the
year senior linebacker Josh Ross, the
tests have become second nature
tests have become second nature
— just another part
— just another part
of
the
of
the
team’s
team’s
daily routine.
daily routine.
Seven weeks after
Seven weeks after
what
was
supposed
what
was
supposed
to be their opener,
to be their opener,
the
Wolverines
the
Wolverines
will finally take
will finally take
the
field
in
the
field
in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
on Saturday.
on Saturday.
But there’s
But there’s
still a lot of
still a lot of
uncertainty. The Big Ten’s schedule
uncertainty. The Big Ten’s schedule
includes nine games in nine weeks,
includes nine games in nine weeks,
concluding with a championship
concluding with a championship
weekend in which all 14 teams play.
weekend in which all 14 teams play.
But so far this season, 10.6% of
But so far this season, 10.6% of
scheduled games been postponed
scheduled games been postponed
or canceled due to the virus, calling
or canceled due to the virus, calling
into doubt whether the Big Ten will
into doubt whether the Big Ten will
complete its season.
complete its season.
Those doubts have only intensified
Those doubts have only intensified
with Purdue coach Jeff Brohm testing
with Purdue coach Jeff Brohm testing
positive Sunday, taking him out of
positive Sunday, taking him out of
the Boilermakers’ opener. Minnesota
the Boilermakers’ opener. Minnesota
coach
P.J.
Fleck
told
reporters
coach
P.J.
Fleck
told
reporters
Monday that he knew how many
Monday that he knew how many
players were out this week but would
players were out this week but would
not share an exact number, implying
not share an exact number, implying
that there were multiple players who
that there were multiple players who
would miss the game due to testing
would miss the game due to testing
positive.
positive.
Big Ten protocols state that
Big Ten protocols state that
players who test positive will be
players who test positive will be
out of competition for 21 days.
out of competition for 21 days.
Coaches who test positive can
Coaches who test positive can
return after 10 days as long as
return after 10 days as long as
they have been symptom-free for
they have been symptom-free for
24 hours. Additionally, teams may
24 hours. Additionally, teams may
not practice or play if 7.5% of team
not practice or play if 7.5% of team
personnel test positive within a
personnel test positive within a
seven-day period.
seven-day period.
For its part, Michigan is good
For its part, Michigan is good
to go for Saturday. According to
to go for Saturday. According to
Jim Harbaugh, the team does “not
Jim Harbaugh, the team does “not
currently” have any players out
currently” have any players out
against the Golden Gophers.
against the Golden Gophers.
At a protest against the season’s
At a protest against the season’s
postponement on Sept. 5, Harbaugh
postponement on Sept. 5, Harbaugh
touted that the team had zero
touted that the team had zero
positives since the end of July. That
positives since the end of July. That
streak is no longer — Harbaugh said
streak is no longer — Harbaugh said
Monday that there had been positive
Monday that there had been positive
tests since then, though he did not say
tests since then, though he did not say
how many or when the positive tests
how many or when the positive tests
happened. With no one unable to play
happened. With no one unable to play
against Minnesota, those positive
against Minnesota, those positive
tests were presumably before Oct. 3.
tests were presumably before Oct. 3.
It’s unclear how severe the Golden
It’s unclear how severe the Golden
Gophers’ outbreak is, other than that
Gophers’ outbreak is, other than that
it must not include more than 7.5% of
it must not include more than 7.5% of
the team. When asked in September
the team. When asked in September
how he would feel playing a team that
how he would feel playing a team that
had an outbreak, Harbaugh didn’t
had an outbreak, Harbaugh didn’t
give a direct answer.
give a direct answer.
“I don’t know what’s going on in
“I don’t know what’s going on in
the rest of the world,” he said then. “I
the rest of the world,” he said then. “I
know what we’re doing.”
know what we’re doing.”
Harbaugh
has
consistently
Harbaugh
has
consistently
expressed confidence in Michigan’s
expressed confidence in Michigan’s
protocols, and they do seem to be
protocols, and they do seem to be
working.
While
other
teams
—
working.
While
other
teams
—
including Michigan State, Rutgers,
including Michigan State, Rutgers,
Maryland, Iowa and Wisconsin — had
Maryland, Iowa and Wisconsin — had
to shut down practice due to large
to shut down practice due to large
outbreaks, the Wolverines have been
outbreaks, the Wolverines have been
able to hold every scheduled practice
able to hold every scheduled practice
since returning to campus in June.
since returning to campus in June.
The 21-day sit-out requirement has
The 21-day sit-out requirement has
also served as a strong deterrent
also served as a strong deterrent
against players breaking protocol.
against players breaking protocol.
“Not doing nothing at all,” Ross
“Not doing nothing at all,” Ross
said Monday. “Chilling. Staying home,
said Monday. “Chilling. Staying home,
coming to (Schembechler Hall), doing
coming to (Schembechler Hall), doing
schoolwork and staying out of the
schoolwork and staying out of the
way. That’s all I can do.”
way. That’s all I can do.”
Still, the presence of the virus looms
Still, the presence of the virus looms
large. Harbaugh refused to name
large. Harbaugh refused to name
a definitive starter at quarterback
a definitive starter at quarterback
Monday, maintaining that he couldn’t
Monday, maintaining that he couldn’t
guarantee any player would be cleared
guarantee any player would be cleared
to play — he did say that junior Joe
to play — he did say that junior Joe
Milton was “running with the ones.”
Milton was “running with the ones.”
And when defensive line coach
And when defensive line coach
Shaun Nua was asked about the Golden
Shaun Nua was asked about the Golden
Gophers matchup last Wednesday,
Gophers matchup last Wednesday,
he complimented the team’s potent
he complimented the team’s potent
offense but also acknowledged what’s
offense but also acknowledged what’s
on everyone’s mind as the season
on everyone’s mind as the season
begins.
begins.
“I’m not nervous about the game,”
“I’m not nervous about the game,”
Nua said. “I’m nervous about the
Nua said. “I’m nervous about the
COVID thing. I wanna make sure that
COVID thing. I wanna make sure that
thing is not getting to us.”
thing is not getting to us.”
As University locks down,
Michigan readies for opener
ARIA GERSON
Daily Sports Writer
FILE PHOTO/DAILY
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
CONGRATULATIONS
The class of ‘31E and it’s Scholarship Selection Committee congratulates and welcomes
their FOUR new scholarship winners for the 2020-2021 academic year.
CHIMMUANYA IHEANYI-IGWE
MORGAN SERRA
TAYLOR SCOTT
CLAUDIA ZIMMERMAN
They will be joining the ‘31E HONOR SOCIETY and our SEVENTEEN current
scholars:
GEORGE ADAMSON
BENJAMIN MAHLE
TYLER BARLETT
ADITYA MIDDHA
ROBERT ELLIOT
GABRIELLA RODRIGUEZ
ALFONSOBOTTA-LOPEZ
JOEY COSTELLO
LINDSEY FURNESS
ERIN DEUTSCHMAN
MICHELLE CEHNER
JOSEPH TAYLOR
JESSICA HOUGHTON
ALLISON WILCOX
CONNOR INGLIS
LAURA WILLIAMS
JACOB MAKEY
All of these scholarship winners would normally be honored at our annual Scholarship
Banquet but this years event will be conducted online as a Zoom meeting on the evening
of October 23rd at 6 PM, stay safe.
Since the establishment of the ‘31E Scholarship Program in 1982, more than 200 aspiring
engineering students have been helped to experience a University of Michigan education
and have gone on to rewarding careers.
George E. Anderson - Director of Media Relations - Class of 1931 Engineering
TO OUR 31E SCHOLARS ON THE
38th ANNIVERSARY
OF OUR CLASS of 1931
ENGINEERING SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM
BIGGEST
TEST YET