But did they? There are countless schools that have dealt with multiple positive tests (not just one, as with Coastal) and they were able to play the games. How? These programs (including ours) properly executed the "distancing protocols" and therefore were not subject to losing large swaths of players due to the contact tracing mandate. If it is in fact true that these players (all of the D-Lineman on the roster) should properly be declared ineligible to play due to contact tracing (player contact with the D-line coach that tested positive on Thursday after a negative test Wednesday), this is the fault of the Coastal Carolina football program for failure to execute the proper procedures and constraints.
Do I think that the contact tracing mandate was violated with all of their D-Lineman? My "guess" is that they did not violate this mandate and that they simply do not want this game for a plethora of reasons (including Chadwell's contract tracing ... pun intended). And in a day and age when the public is hypersensitive about Covid, the Coastal program is not going to be held to account (and asked the hard questions) for making the decision that they did. There are people out there that simply want the economy and all activity to cease ... and this plays right into all of it.
Thus, if the contact tracing mandate was legitimately violated, then this is the fault and responsibility of the Coastal football program. As such, Coastal Carolina is to blame regardless of what you believe happened.
Another opinion of mine ... if the Sun Belt had the championship game rules instituted by the Pac-12 (meaning App State would be playing the Cajuns in the title game if Coastal was unavailable to play), I have no doubt that we would be playing this game against Coastal Carolina this afternoon.
Brian
It’s like a freaking bad dream that keeps coming up. Know that it’s championship Saturday makes it worse. Going to be hard to get through the day
I've gotta say, Brian hit the nail on the head. Didn't think about the PAC-12 thought process. Again, CCU got away with it...I still blame the conference for the majority of allowing this to happen. Really can't believe this occurred; this was the SBC's chance to make a name on national recognition (championship) day.
I’m not going to pile on the coach. Especially if he got C19 from his household. But I’m absolutely going to put the blame on Coastal and their C19 management. If they were following protocol and social distancing, then there would be no need to quarantine an entire group. If they are following the CDC definition of “direct contact” to determine who needs to quarantine, then that means they screwed up if that many guys are out.
This is 100% on them and it’s sickening to see them potentially be rewarded for it.
They destroyed what was the biggest SunBelt game ever and now they are acting like they’re above it. Not even entertaining the notion of a another matchup? I know it’s not up to them, but if Chadwell came right out and said they still want to play instead of taking the “we’re on to bigger and better things” attitude, then you’d bet a reschedule would have gained some traction. At least among the court of public opinion.
Every team in the country has played under the same circumstance in dealing with C19. They’ve played short handed, they’ve rescheduled, no one was immune. If CC wanted to play the game, they could shuffle players around just like we did, UAB did, like every other team has likely done at some point this year. In my opinion, it was about preserving the record.
The issue with contract tracing is that it is very easy to manipulate the facts for the desired result.
If CC was looking at determining players available to play in the Peach Bowl, you can bet your bottom dollar there would have been no position group excluded by contact tracing.
However, if contract tracing facts are reported for a game that you do not want to play, we saw the results.
Further, with the new 7 day rules, it makes it even easier to game the system.
Just sayin.
How many players are out for Ohio State? 20 plus? How on earth am I watching them on tv? Seems impossible. Oh wait, they want to play a football game.
Heck, USC played “replacement” Oregon. And lost.
When my kids played his sports, there was smack “It’s ok to say you’re scared”. CCU fix was in as soon as the final whistle at Troy. It’s ok SBC and Costal, just say it.
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