Memphis-Houston game in jeopardy due to coronavirus outbreak
The Memphis Tigers might not be able to face the Houston Cougars next Friday as scheduled.
According to Andrea Adelson of ESPN, Memphis temporarily halted football activities on Friday due to a coronavirus outbreak within the program. Per Evan Barnes and Mark Giannotto of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, at least 20 individuals associated with the program tested positive for the virus, with "at least another 20" people in quarantine following contact tracing.
Those who tested positive are self-isolating for 10 days.
Barnes and Giannotto added members of the team were allegedly spotted on a "party bus" following last Saturday's win over Arkansas State. Memphis defensive lineman O'Bryan Goodson denied that rumor in a tweet that has been deleted.
In a prepared statement, the school said:
"The positive tests and subsequent contact tracing indicate that the majority of cases have been linked to social events outside of official football activities."
The statement continued:
"These positive tests, along with contact tracing efforts, dictate that a significant number of individuals enter quarantine in accordance with CDC guidelines. Due to these circumstances, the football team has paused all practice and group activities and will unfortunately not be able to participate in (Friday's) Unity Walk hosted by the University of Memphis.
"There are no serious cases at this time, but all student-athletes and staff affected are being closely monitored."
Practices are likely postponed through at least the weekend, with team members set to undergo additional coronavirus testing on Saturday.
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