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Barry Alvarez shares why Wisconsin canceled Nebraska game
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Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez was forthcoming with details after the Badgers decided to cancel their game against Nebraska this weekend.
“The decision fell into the category where the chancellor and I had the prerogative to make the decision,” Alvarez told reporters on a Zoom call Wednesday afternoon.
Wisconsin administration made the decision to shut down on its own (AD Barry Alvarez and Chancellor Rebecca Blanks). Testing thresholds were only orange/red which in Big Ten protocols don't automatically shut down the program. Alvarez said, "We had to get our arms around this."
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) October 28, 2020
Earlier in the day, the Badgers announced they had 12 positive tests — six players and six staff members, including coach Paul Chryst.
Alvarez added that he and chancellor Rebecca Blank felt like they need to get their “arms around [the situation].”
Alvarez: "We just felt like, the number of positives, in that short of timeline" meant Wisconsin had to get its "arms around" the situation.
— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) October 28, 2020
Alvarez said he informed Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos of the decision on Wednesday morning.
Barry Alvarez informed Nebraska AD Bill Moos early this morning of Wisconsin's decision to cancel the game. Alvarez said Moos was understandably disappointed but "very understanding" and professional. Moos and Alvarez were supposed to have dinner on Friday night in Lincoln.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 28, 2020
The Badgers have Purdue scheduled in Week 2, but Alvarez says they’ll re-evaluate what the numbers look like “in the coming days.”
“The most important thing right now is to quarantine our players and get this under control,” he said. “We’ll make that decision about playing the next game when the time comes.”
Alvarez said that players will have individual hotel rooms during the quarantine.
#Badgers AD Barry Alvarez says all players will have individual hotel rooms during quarantine.
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) October 28, 2020
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.