ARIZONA FOOTBALL

Arizona Wildcats freshmen football players to resume athlete re-entry plan

Jul 30, 2020, 9:03 AM

Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin greets his team's defense as they play Arizona State during the second h...

Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin greets his team's defense as they play Arizona State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

(AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Freshmen Arizona Wildcat football players will resume the university’s phased re-entry plan on Monday as the school has not had any positive tests of student-athletes in the past two weeks.

“Our decision to resume our re-entry process for student-athletes was made after consultations with President (Robert) Robbins, university leadership, the University of Arizona Re-Entry Task Force as well as our Re-Entry Advisory Group of campus and community medical experts,” said vice president and director of athletics Dave Heeke.

“Our comprehensive and phased approach centers around safety, health and well-being as we continue to follow the guidance of campus and community partners. The safe and healthy return of student-athletes has been the focus of all decision making throughout this process, and it will continue to guide us moving forward.”

Re-entry and participation by athletes remains a personal decision.

The school paused athlete re-entry on June 29 as cases in Arizona and Pima County spiked. At that point, the school had only counted one positive test among returning athletes.

By July 17, the school said there were three positive coronavirus tests out of 366 test-encounters to 83 football players. An additional 28 staff members who had already returned to campus were all negative for the virus.

Last week, Robbins announced that the University of Arizona campus would be open in some capacity to students for the fall semester.

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