Les Miles Cleared To Travel With Team, Chooses Not To

Kansas head coach Les Miles tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Since then, he's been cleared by Kansas Team Health to travel. Word broke on Friday, however, that he has chosen to skip the trip to Morgantown to take on the 2-1 West Virginia team.

The news comes as a surprise, but Miles said that he arrived at the decision after having "several in-depth conversations."

“Yesterday, I received clearance from Kansas Team Health to travel with our football team to Morgantown. I am very grateful for the high level of care that I have received throughout my time since I tested positive for COVID-19 early last week. I continue to feel healthy and strong, and was fortunate to only have mild symptoms," Miles relayed in the statement.

"However, after much consideration and several in-depth conversations with the medical team, our coaching staff, and Kansas Athletics administration, I have made the difficult decision to not make the trip to West Virginia. While my 10-day isolation window was completed this morning, there is too much still unknown about this virus for me to feel 100 percent confident that I won’t transmit it to someone who comes into close contact with me on the team charter, hotel or at the game Saturday."

At the end of the statement, Miles says that Joshua Eargle will act as interim coach for Kansas during his absence. Eargle is currently the tight end coach for the Jayhawks, as well as the recruiting coordinator.

It's admirable that Miles has chosen to continue his quarantine despite being cleared to travel. Whether he would have made the same decision if Kansas was in contention and not 0-3 on the season is anyone's guess. But considering that the Mountaineers are 23-point favorites over the Jayhawks, Miles' absence might not matter much.

Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.