Nebraska-Wisconsin football game canceled as COVID cases rose on Badger roster

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Sam McKewon

LINCOLN — No treats for Nebraska football this Halloween. Just another nasty trick from the pandemic.

The Huskers’ game Saturday against Wisconsin has been canceled and logged as “no contest” after the Badgers announced on Wednesday that it had too many positive COVID-19 tests this week. UW had almost all of its roster available for last week’s 45-7 win over Illinois, but according to reports, the team’s Nos. 2 and 3 quarterbacks Graham Mertz and Chase Wolf both contracted the virus, and several more of the players did, as well.

As of Wednesday morning, a total of 12 people within the Wisconsin football program had tested positive for COVID-19 in the past five days. That figure includes six student-athletes and six staff members, including Badger coach Paul Chryst. Additional test results are pending.

"This morning I received the news that I had tested positive via a PCR test I took yesterday," Chryst said. "I informed my staff and the team this morning and am currently isolating at home. I had not been experiencing any symptoms and feel good as of this morning.



According to reports, Wisconsin's Nos. 2 and 3 quarterbacks, Graham Mertz (above) and Chase Wolf both contracted COVID-19, and clearly several more of the players did, as well.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Read more: https://omaha.com/sports/huskers/football/nebraska-wisconsin-football-game-canceled-as-covid-cases-rose-on-badger-roster/article_2e2a7dbc-9e48-5cf2-a4ef-387789595276.html#tracking-source=home-breaking

[Sneederbunk]

1. Big 10 rolls dice and comes up snake eyes.

[Roc2020]

2. I understand the decision to play but it's

probably the worse time possible seeing the virus is on a skyrocket surge

[LisaM]

5. I think you are exactly right.

They delayed the season out of caution, then managed to start it to synch up with a surge in most of the states where the B!G plays.

[Steelrolled]

8. The Big 10 thought they could do it safely

but they are finding that even with the greatest of safety measures, nothing is guaranteed. This should give other teams even more motivation to be diligent.

[Postal Grunt]

3. Cornhusker football..

is the closest thing to a state religion in Nebraska.

[C Moon]

4. Those college games are crazy! I can't believe people aren't falling like flies from COVID aferward.

[Steelrolled]

7. They are being about as careful as you can be without an NBA-like bubble.

They have daily testing, outdoor practice, and essentially no fans at the games. So it is not too surprising to me.

My first reaction is that someone at Wisconsin let down the team, but it might be more nuanced. In any case, losing most of your quarterbacks for 21 days (barring a negative re-test) almost kills the season for them.

[C Moon]

11. The games I see there are plenty of fans in the stadiums.

[Steelrolled]

12. The BIG 10 only allows family of the players

other than the players, coaches, staff, etc. The press box has reduced seating. No regular fans, band, cheerleaders, etc. They have piped-in crowd noise.

I think the attendances last week were around 1,000, in stadiums that sometimes hold more than 100,000. I think the Big 10 one of the most strict conferences.

[McKim]

6. This Ought to Wake Them Up!

This ought to wake up those football fans, COVID IS real!

[aggiesal]

9. Shocked! Shocked, I say ...

[SmartVoter22]

10. One of WIsconsin's distractive activities

We only got one game.
Badger football was one of the only positive activities happening in the state. we could watch with no Trump, no anger and no fear.
So the game is cancelled for Sat with Nebraska. I can watch re-runs though, nothing like a Russell Wilson game with TJ Watts. A Rose Bowl Game? !!

Brown County, Wi where Green Bay and the Packers are located, is leading the state in CoVid infections. Too many locals are running around with no masks.
Kids in grocery stores with no masks.
It is so bad there, thatiIt has a 78% recovery rate and no amount of cheese will help that.
Only masks, distancing & soap can stem this tsunami of dispair.



Good thoughts to all the college players and stay safe.