ASU begins new testing protocol as Edwards urges caution in socialization

While there have been positive coronavirus tests within the NCAA and NFL, the cases don’t seem to be coming from being on the field during games themselves.

Instead, it appears to start while socializing outside the game altogether, which brings cases to practice and in turn has delayed some games.

That’s something ASU football head coach Herm Edwards has noticed, and something he’s stressing to his athletes and staff: Irresponsibility off the field could result in consequences on.

“It’s kind of interesting. So far, all these games have been played and I haven’t heard of any player playing the game of football contract the virus. There’s a lot of people contracting the virus when they’re not on the playing field, when they leave the building,” Edwards said.

“That’s what I’m trying to stress to our coaches and our players. We have to be very careful with who we socialize with and the positions we put ourselves in.”

With the Pac-12 season scheduled to begin Nov. 7 — the Sun Devils begin their season at USC — ASU is working on its testing measures to prevent an outbreak from impacting the team.

They began their new testing protocol last week.

“We started testing protocol at 6:15 a.m., the whole team got through there within an hour and a half. We got our results before we went to the practice field,” Edwards said.

He said every player came back clean, and they would repeat that test every practice.

The negative tests give the reassurance it’s safe to play, but that’s not the end-all be-all for the team.

“The testing allows you to know that day, at that point and time, that we’re good. But it doesn’t protect you from the virus,” Edwards said. “What protects you from the virus is making good decisions. Wearing [a mask] when we’re around people, don’t be around too many, and when we leave … what are you doing? And that’s the key.”

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