New Mexico Pauses Football Practice Due To Multiple COVID-19 Positive Tests
Lobos have to stop football practice.
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Lobo practice is done for the week.
New Mexico football has to pause its football practices due to eight players and one coach testing positive for COVID-19. The tests came to light on Wednesday and athletics director Eddie Nuñez said that Thursday practices are canceled as well as Friday’s to be cautious.
There is no indication at this time that this outbreak will impact its opener vs. Colorado State on Oct. 24, nor will practices will be interrupted game week.
These positive tests were the first from Aug. 28 so the Lobo had a really good stretch of testing and keeping safe, but that is not too surprising because once players start playing actual football that includes a lot of contact.
This is something to watch because if there is a certain number of players, coaches, or staff then games will be canceled.
What is also not good is that New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said: “I think that UNM is prepared to publicly announce that they’re seeing trouble with their athletes and coaches.”
In addition to this small outbreak on the New Mexico football team is that there is going to be more tightening of rules in regards to COVID-19.
This is gonna impact Mountain West football since a negative test will not be enough to be permitted to enter the state.
More will be known Thursday during a press conference.https://t.co/E3Cn8fat8d
— Mountain West Wire (@MWCwire) October 14, 2020
One issue among these new requirements could impact teams coming into town as a negative test won’t be enough to avoid a 14-day quarantine.
An exemption to New Mexico’s quarantine mandates, which allowed individuals arriving from higher-risk states to forego a required two-week quarantine if they test negative within 72 hours of their arrival, will be eliminated.
Perhaps an exemption could be made for sporting events? There have been a few for the New Mexico United football club for practices but all of their games have been on the road. Soccer travels with fewer people than a football team that could bring in about 100 people.
There is no word that New Mexico would have all road games like the soccer club and right now the Lobos have four home and four road games and their first home game is on Oct. 31 vs. San Jose State. Their season opener is at Colorado State a week prior.
