TAMPA, Fla. — South Florida paused all football activities following multiple positive COVID-19 tests on the Notre Dame football team following last weekend's game in South Bend.
USF announced it's postponed this Saturday's game at Florida Atlantic. Bulls head coach Jeff Scott said there are two open weeks in December that could be used as make-up dates.
Scott said COVID-19 is the most consistent opponent they'll face this season and there aren't any off days when you're trying to adjust to a virus.
"When the decision was made, obviously you’re disappointed for your players and your team," Scott said, Thursday via video chat. "But about a minute and half later you’re putting together the plan of what you’re going to do when we are allowed to get back, and we are allowed to start practicing."
The team's medical staff is going through tapes of the game at Notre Dame to determine who's immediately available to play and who isn't. The coaching staff just has to play the waiting game.
"It’s not a situation where the coaches go in the film room with the medical staff and say 'Hey, that didn’t count. He ran around that guy,'" Scott said. "They go do the work. That’s why you pause your workouts. And then they come up to you and report to you who’s out. That’s really the way that it has to be."
Scott said he knows his players want to play, but they also knew something like this could happen. He said there's no time to sulk because they have to get ready for another on-field opponent.
“Hey, we got 24 hours. Let’s try to turn the page and worry about what’s in front of us," he said.
Coach Scott didn't comment on this week's test results, but he said he hopes to be practicing again by Monday.
The Bulls next game is scheduled for Oct. 3 at Cincinnati. FAU is still waiting to kick off its season.
