ASU makes it to start line but major COVID challenges still ahead

Arizona State is finally at the start line for the 2020-21 athletic year, 11 weeks later than for the first competition in 2019-20.

Saturday's football opener at USC will be the first for ASU in any sport since a softball game March 10, an eight-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. That gap in a non-COVID scenario could have been as short as 9-10 weeks had the ASU baseball team advanced to the College World Series. 

"Everybody started saying unprecedented times," ASU deputy athletic director Jean Boyd said. "A couple of months ago, I started saying unfathomable."

It is also sobering that all of the testing work and expense put in to date guarantees nothing more than one game in one sport.

Wisconsin played its football opener Oct. 23 against Illinois and since has had 27 COVID cases, including coach Paul Chryst and quarterback Graham Mertz, and cancelled two games. One more cancellation would take the Badgers out of contention for the Big Ten title (minimum six games required).

The Pac-12, last among Power 5 conferences to start playing football, is playing six consecutive weeks before a crossover weekend including the conference championship game Dec. 18-19. Room for making up games was built into a 10-game schedule announced in late July that would have started Sept. 26. That plan was abandoned Aug. 11 in favor of a spring season before conference CEOs switched again Sept. 24 to a seven-game late fall season. The Pac-12 partnered with Quidel Corporation for daily antigen testing to provide rapid results and limit COVID spread.

"The Quidel partnership on paper make sense and is smart," Boyd said. "But (initially) you don't recognize what you're doing is assembling a testing lab that has to have certain certifications. Your have to hire additional staff who are trained in observe tests and run the machines. 

"There's been nothing easy about any of this, not a single thing. Our athletes have done a really good job of appreciating and respecting the process. They have the biggest part to do, which is staying safe and keeping out of situations that would open them up to infection. To get to a point where we've got a chance to have a season is simply amazing."

In addition to football season, men's and women's basketball and hockey, all start around Thanksgiving. ASU is currently doing daily testing for six teams (water polo and wrestling included) plus a weekly PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test that takes longer to process but is more accurate than the rapid antigen test.

In late September, the Pac-12 announced a partnership with Fulgent Genetics for RT-PCR testing to supplement existing antigen and PCR testing. 

"PCR is the highest (testing) standard," Boyd said. "We're really blessed at ASU in that we in that we have the Biodesign Institute that has developed a saliva-based PCR test. They have been incredible partners in helping us (two days per week). You have to have the PCR and antigen working together."

ASU athletics is not giving out specific information on those testing positive for COVID because of privacy protections. Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson and even ASU President Michael Crow acknowledged that there were some COVID cases even before full football camp opened Oct. 9. 

ASU football appears to be healthy, at least using the announced depth chart as an indicator, going into Saturday. Media members are not allowed to attend practices so certainly a COVID surprise is possible.

During a football game week, Pac-12 athletes must receive a PCR test within 36 hours of game time (home team) or travel departure (visiting team). Also any positive daily antigen test must be followed by a PCR test within 24 hours. 

On game day, a third party testing administrator will administer antigen tests and PCR tests if necessary for both teams and on-field officials. Ambulance service will be available for anyone testing positive while traveling for competition.

The Pac-12 roster minimum to play a football game is 53 scholarship players, including at least seven offensive linemen, four defensive lineman and one quarterback. A team below those thresholds can choose to play or the game will be rescheduled if possible or declared a no contest.

A coach or athlete testing positive is required by the Pac-12 to isolate for a minimum of 10 days then follow a return to play protocol that includes at least three cardiac tests (troponin blood test, EKG and echocardiogram) and clearance from a team physician.

So a Pac-12 football player, for example, would miss at least two games due to a positive test similar to Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, out last week and Saturday vs. Notre Dame.

Boyd said ASU athletes also are being encouraged to get a flu shot through health services.

"You try to learn from other people's challenges," Boyd said. "To understand what the hot points were or something that might have been an open door for infection. 

"We feel like we have done our homework and research we can to be best armed for decision making as we get ready to play and travel. There's a constant messaging to our athletes that every decision you make is making it more likely or less likely we're going to have a full season and have all of our players aside from injury. Coach (Herm) Edwards has done an incredible job."

Edwards, 66, is going into his third season as ASU's football head coach. He praised the COVID precautions taken so far by his players and staff but knows the biggest challenges to health still are head.

"It’s not so much when we’re here (in the football facility), it’s when we leave," Edwards said. "What do you do? Who are you socializing with? Who are you allowing in your circle? That’s the critical one, and I think for the most part, our players, our coaching staff and all the people involved have done a nice job. You’re talking about the trainers, the equipment guys, the weight coaches, everyone. We want to continue to be safe. Who you socialize with when you leave the building is kind of important.”

Boyd said, "You can never feel completely comfortable. You're always going where is it looking to rear its head. It's almost like an opponent. How is it going to try to attack us? Is our game plan as tight as it can be related to this type of opposition? You have to think of it that way."

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Reach the reporter at jeff.metcalfe@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8053. Follow him on Twitter @jeffmetcalfe.

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