Report: ACC team sits out first scheduled practice |
Syracuse football players decided as a team not to practice on Thursday over concerns about playing during the coronavirus pandemic,
the Syracuse Post-Standard reported Friday.
The Post-Standard says the players sat out and instead held "a series of team meetings," which included Orange head coach Dino Babers and athletic director John Wildhack. Per the report: "The source said the players were comfortable with Syracuse’s rules, but they are worried other ACC schools, as well as non-conference opponent Liberty, won’t be as careful." Wildhack issued a statement on Friday calling for ACC teams to test for COVID-19 twice a week. "Syracuse Athletics is committed to doing everything we can to support and protect the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes, our staff and the campus and Syracuse communities," Wildhack said. "That is why, in consultation with the Onondaga County Health Department, medical professionals and public health experts, we developed a comprehensive strategy that allows our student-athletes to safely train to compete in the upcoming season. "Our strategy includes frequent COVID-19 testing and comprehensive resources and services to support the mental, physical and emotional well-being of our student-athletes. At the request of our student-athletes on the football team, we will conduct COVID-19 testing twice per week beginning the week of September 7. We will also encourage our fellow ACC institutions to adopt twice-weekly testing for football to foster and maintain a healthy environment for all our student-athletes to compete within." Former Clemson offer and S.C. native Cooper Dawson already announced this week that he is opting out on the season due to concerns over COVID-19. Syracuse is slated to open its season at UNC on Sept. 12. They come to Clemson on Oct. 24. Statement from Syracuse University Director of Athletics John Wildhack: pic.twitter.com/fZREZttzRH
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