News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Tennessee Tech football team and staff has 18 confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Athletic Director Mark Wilson said the initial wave of cases was expected once the team returned to campus.
“Our numbers are very similar to community numbers that you see throughout Tennessee or the Southeast,” Wilson said. “What we are seeing is expected. That is why we were very cautious to our approach to student athletes returning to campus.”
Wilson said infected players and staff are quarantined off campus. The university has conducted 110 tests since the football team returned on July 12th.
“That is why we have not had any team activities thus far. This is the initial testing that the NCAA has recommended on the arrival of campus, so you know what you are dealing with when your student athletes and staff return to campus,” Wilson said. “This is just for us to control it out of the gate before we have a widespread outbreak.”
Team work outs are still expected to happen as scheduled next week. Wilson said the infected 16 student athletes and two staff members have cooperated with NCAA and state Covid guidelines.
“They understand the social responsibility that they have to isolate and quarantine and ensure the safety of their teammates and community is at the most importance,” Wilson said. “Us being discipline right now and working through these protocols and procedures will allow us to be successful and compete in these games.”
Wilson said the university is requiring the football team and staff to wear masks. The football season is moving forward as planned at this time.
“We are playing 11 games,” Wilson said. “We lost a game against Minnesota and lost a game with North Carolina Central, but we are looking to replace those games at this time. We are still planning to play 11 games as of today.”
The Golden Eagle football season is scheduled to start on September 5th.
