Baylor 3rd B12 team to put off opener after La Tech outbreak

Baylor became third Big 12 team forced to postpone its scheduled season opener this weekend after Louisiana Tech reported multiple positive COVID-19 tests Tuesday, less than two weeks after a hurricane-affected its campus.

Louisiana Tech athletic director Tommy McClelland said Tuesday night that it wasn’t possible for Bulldogs to play Saturday at Baylor because of positive tests and contact tracing that would keep or players out game.

school didn’t provide any specific numbers, but said re was a spike in cases in aftermath of Hurricane Laura on Aug. 27 that impacted campus in Ruston, Louisiana, which is more than 200 miles inland. McClelland school h only one positive case in three weeks before current outbreak, an indication that protocols in place were working.

“With 95% of our city losing power for days — even up to a week in many areas — our student-athletes were forced to find places to stay and some even h family from south Louisiana that came rthward to stay with m," McClelland said. "So many things that we were able to control for month of August became out of our control, and I think numbers prove that it took its toll.”

makeup date was anunced.

Louisiana Tech-Baylor game is 10th Division I game that has been postponed because of vel coronavirus, including Big 12 games SMU at TCU and Tulsa at Oklahoma State. or postponed games are: rth Carolina State at Virginia Tech, Temple at Navy, ULM at Troy, Marshall at East Carolina, and three Rice games — against Houston, Marshall and UAB.

TCU h to put off its scheduled opener Friday night after a virus outbreak last week among a cluster of Horned Frogs players and support staff. Oklahoma State has pushed back its opener against Tulsa a week to Sept. 19 after Golden Hurricane were limited during preseason camp because of multiple positive tests.

Seven Big 12 teams are still scheduled to play Saturday.

“We are incredibly disappointed to anunce postponement of our upcoming football game against Louisiana Tech,” Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoes said. “However, in interest of health and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, we are confident in this unfortunate but necessary course of action. To Baylor and Louisiana Tech student-athletes and communities, we share in your disappointment and look ahe to resuming play.”

game was supposed to be debut of new Baylor he coach Dave Aranda, defensive coordinator last season for 15-0 national champion LSU. He replaced Matt Rhule, who was hired by NFL's Carolina Panrs after three seasons with Bears.

Im credits: AP