Arizona Wildcats say 100% of football team is vaccinated
Aug 20, 2021, 10:47 AM
Head coach Jedd Fisch of the Arizona Wildcats reacts on the sidelines during the Arizona Spring game at Arizona Stadium on April 24, 2021 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
All players, coaches and staffers for the Arizona Wildcats are vaccinated for COVID-19, the football team announced on Thursday.
The Wildcats are one of the first teams in the country to say they’ve reached a 100% vaccination rate. Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin said his team had reached full vaccination status about 10 days prior.
“We take our health very seriously and we are committed to a 12-game season and beyond,” the team said in a tweet. “We are also committed to staying healthy and are hopeful that campus can follow our lead.”
While fully vaccinated people can still catch or spread the virus, free federally authorized vaccines are widely available and highly effective in preventing illness from COVID-19, including the more contagious delta variant that now accounts for most of the new cases in the U.S.
Positive tests knocking out the required number of players could have greater consequences this season compared to last.
The Pac-12 Conference’s loosened forfeiture rules that in the 2020-21 school year were changed amid the pandemic no longer apply.
Reverting back to the pre-pandemic policies could lead teams to take losses if they are not able to field a roster for a game.
In 2020, Pac-12 games were either canceled with no change to either teams’ record or rescheduled due to positive coronavirus tests hitting players and staff.
“Following consultation with the Pac-12 Athletic Directors Committee, the Pac-12 has determined that its prior longstanding game forfeiture rule, that was temporarily modified for this past season due to COVID-19, shall once again be applied for this coming athletic season,” the conference said in a statement.
“In accordance with that rule, if an institution is unable to play a contest through its own fault, it shall forfeit such contest to its opponent. Any forfeited contest shall be regarded as a conference loss for the team making the forfeit and a conference win for its opponent. The Pac-12 rule provides the Commissioner with discretion to determine whether an institution is at fault or primarily at fault for an inability to play a contest based on the facts of the situation.”
