John Clay: Some encouraging news where sports and the coronavirus pandemic are concerned

Jul. 21--When Jim Harbaugh said a couple of weeks ago that he didn't think playing sports would make the COVID-19 outbreak worse, I thought that was just another nutty statement by the Michigan football coach. Maybe I was wrong.

If there has been one encouraging sign of late in this coronavirus pandemic, it has been the numbers reported by the various sports leagues or teams that have been able to get their players and staff under some sort of controlled environment.

For instance, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Monday that since the NBA began its bubble workouts in Orlando, zero players tested positive for the coronavirus since the last results were announced July 13.

Major League Baseball announced Friday that out of 21,701 tests administered, just 80 players and 93 people overall had tested positive, for 0.4 percent.

The NHL said that of the 800 players it has tested, just two have come back positive.

Oklahoma announced Monday it had tested 100 student-athletes and staff members for COVID-19 and just one had tested positive. The one was a women's basketball player.

Arkansas announced last week that with more than 300 tests administered, just 10 student-athletes and two staff members had tested positive.

Tulane announced last week that all 115 COVID-19 tests given to student-athletes coaches and staff since July 4 had come back negative.

Before that, Wisconsin reported that out of 117 student-athletes tested, just two were positive.

[Kentucky's future football schedules]

It hasn't all been rainbows, however. Indiana football paused voluntary workouts last week after six participants tested positive for COVID-19. Maryland suspended football workouts after nine positive tests out of 185 among student-athletes and staff. Last Wednesday, Tennessee reported multiple COVID-19 cases since July 4. North Carolina and Ohio State both had to stop workouts because of COVID outbreaks. Both schools have resumed workouts.

Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said he has tested positive for and recovered from COVID-19. (Stricklin was an associate AD at UK.) Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott revealed that he tested positive for the virus.

Still, an argument can be made that once the schools get the student-athletes back on campus, they have a better chance to limit outbreaks. The schools can control the environment, restrict interactions, preach safety guidelines and keep an eye on social habits. It won't be perfect, of course. But maybe it's a ray of hope.

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