David Chao, MD: Big XII Outbreak at OU, Texas Tech Can Be Contained

The Big 12 chose to align itself with the SEC and ACC in deciding to play football this fall. The conference is now experiencing the rough waters of the pandemic.

Oklahoma has had all but one player in a position group wiped out with simultaneous positive COVID tests. Meanwhile, Texas Tech reports 21 active cases.

The position group spread is what most administrators, coaches and programs feared.

There has been talk of quarantining a quarterback in case the other got sick. Typically guys playing the same position meet together, dress together, practice together, dine together and often socialize together. Position groups have more inherent contact with each other day in and day out than any opponent they will cover, block or tackle on game day. The meetings are on zoom or spread out. The dressing areas distance. The dining is at separate tables and grab and go. What is most difficult to control football activity is maintaining social distance during practice. Position groups often line up next to each other, drill next to and against each other and then stand on the sidelines together for coaching and communication purposes. Coaches have to be creative to change this way of practicing or this will happen again and again.

Texas Tech is still practicing with despite their over 20 positives. It is unknown how the numbers got so high, but I would imagine it is hard to keep 18-21 year olds socially distant. I would like to think I would have complied when I was back in college (ok, maybe not) but realize that is a very tough ask.

The key is to not spread further to all 100 or so players.

With first games on Sept. 12, a little over two and a half weeks away, the typical clearance time from asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic players at 10 days, there is just barely enough time if these infections are contained.

The time to fix things is now. If it happens after this, games will be missed and/or forfeited.