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What Ohio State AD Gene Smith, head coach Ryan Day said about COVID-19 outbreak
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The cancellation of the Ohio State-Illinois game scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28 could create a ripple-effect felt throughout the B1G, and even into the upcoming College Football Playoffs.
When positive COVID-19 test results were revealed Friday evening, the result was the cancellation of the Buckeyes’ game with the Illini, along with all team-related activities being suspended by the OSU program indefinitely. They will resume after medical staff deem them to be safe based on Big Ten Conference protocols.
The cancellation of the Illinois game, coupled with Ohio State’s previously cancelled game with Maryland, results in the Buckeyes’ postseason hopes being in jeopardy. Per the Big Ten’s rules, a team must play at least six games to be considered for participation in the B1G Championship in December.
OSU Vice President and Athletic Director Gene Smith, team physican Dr. Jim Borchers and head coach Ryan Day held a press conference Saturday morning to address the matter.
#Buckeyes AD Gene Smith notes the rapidly rising COVID-19 rates in Franklin County, Ohio. "This is our reality. We’re struggling as a community to stop the spread of Covid-19. We’re operating in a very challenging environment."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 28, 2020
Gene Smith says Ohio State didn't reach the Big Ten's threshold to cancel but reached "a concerning level." Does not rule out Ohio State playing next week against Michigan State. "Possibly give them a chance to compete next weekend."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 28, 2020
Gene Smith says it's not about the B1G championship game or how many games the team plays. "It’s about one thing: Their health, their safety and making sure each day we give them a chance to possibly play next weekend." #Buckeyes
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 28, 2020
Dr. Jim Borchers said OSU football program had "essentially no cases" of COVID until this week.
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) November 28, 2020
Dr. Borchers says they will continue with enhanced testing protocols moving forward, and work under the guidance they have been provided by experts on the best ways to move forward.
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) November 28, 2020
Dr. Borchers said all of the people in the program who have tested positive are doing well and not experiencing symptoms requiring significant medical treatment.
— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) November 28, 2020
Ryan Day says it has been a very, very emotional and difficult week within the program. He says you hold you breath every day when the test results come back. pic.twitter.com/phexq9H7rF
— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) November 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1332726001797881857
Gene Smith: “We made a decision last night to pause because our positivity rate reached a concerning level.”
Said Ohio State has not reached the Big Ten thresholds, but “the positivity rate was concerning enough that we felt we needed to find a way to mitigate the spread.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) November 28, 2020
Gene Smith said Ohio State is hoping to “potentially have an opportunity to come back and compete next weekend” against Michigan State.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) November 28, 2020
Jim Borchers says Ohio State football had "essentially no cases" of COVID-19 until this week.
— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) November 28, 2020
Gene Smith said there have been no conversations with the Big Ten about revisiting the minimal game threshold for reaching the Big Ten championship game, noting there have been more immediate health and safety issues to sort out in the last 24 hours.
— Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) November 28, 2020
Ryan Day said the team moved to virtual meetings on Wednesday, and didn't have a padded/contact practice on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) November 28, 2020
Gene Smith says there haven't been conversations with the Big Ten about getting rid of the six-game minimum required for the Big Ten championship. "I get the question. I'm very sensitive to that. But that's not where we are. We made a decision late last night to do what we did."
— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) November 28, 2020
Gene Smith on what needs to happen for Ohio State to play Michigan State: "I think we need to continue to test and see that there's no more positives that occur. We need to make sure that we're working with our conference office that they're confident in what we're doing."
— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) November 28, 2020
Dr. Jim Borchers says the concern only emerged Wednesday and that the numbers didn't reach a level to force a pause until late Friday. Became "very clear" then. #Buckeyes
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 28, 2020
Scott Schultz covers Michigan State Football, along with Breaking News for B1G Football & Basketball for Saturday Tradition. He also serves as an Automotive News Editor & Writer, and Softball Writer elsewhere on the web. Follow him on Twitter @SRSchultz.