Notre Dame Vs. Wake Forest football game has been rescheduled for Dec. 12th after players test positive for Covid-19
The University of Notre Dame announced Tuesday that they would stop football practice for the well being of their athletes. The decision to cancel Saturday’s game against Wake Forest came soon after the announcement about practice.
Seven players from Notre Dame have tested positive for COVID-19. The news comes just days after California University of Pennsylvania player Jamain Stephens is believed to have died from complications of the virus, which is still under review for confirmation.
Notre Dame has agreed to adhere to safety guidelines for student athletes, including postpoing practices and games according to a statement.
The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today that the Notre Dame at Wake Forest football game will be rescheduled to Saturday, December 12. The game was originally scheduled to be played Saturday, September 26.
The rescheduling follows the positive tests and subsequent quarantining of student-athletes within the Notre Dame football team. The conference and team are adhering to the outlined protocols within ACC Medical Advisory Group report, which is available on theacc.com (full report).
The Campbell at Wake Forest game, originally scheduled for Friday, October 9, will now be played Friday, October 2. The game will be aired on ACC Network at 7 p.m.
As was previously announced, the 2020 ACC Football scheduling model includes 11 games (10 conference plus one non-conference). The 11 games will be played over at least 13 weeks with each team having two open dates. The two open dates for each team allows flexibility, when possible, to make necessary adjustments. Game times and television selections will be released in the future.
Coach Dace Clawson of the opposing team, University of Wake Forest, made it clear that the safety of student athletes is at the top of his list of priorities, but was highly disappointed at the situation according to a statement from the University.
“At no point is this virus going to be defeated this season. Every week we have a weekly opponent as well as another strong opponent that is undefeated right now. We are obviously very disappointed that we will not be able to compete this weekend. However, the health and safety of Wake Forest’s and Notre Dame’s student-athletes & staff is the highest priority.”
College sports experts expect the 2020 season to have more cases like this, causing a trickle effect in reschedules unless drastic measures are taken to ensure players are in an “NBA Bubble” type of atmosphere.
