Senior Amen Ogbongbemiga is among the OSU football players to test positive for COVID-19GETTY IMAGES
Three Oklahoma State football players "tested positive for COVID-19 in the first phase of testing to bring athletes back to campus," and OSU's plan for handling positive tests among athletes is "immediately being put to the test," according to Scott Wright of the OKLAHOMAN. OSU Senior Associate AD Kevin Klintworth said, "Positives were expected and the plan for that scenario has been activated." Sources said that freshman players initially scheduled to move in this weekend were "notified by email or text message that their report date has been delayed until further notice." OSU developed a task force to "oversee athletes returning to campus," and its guidelines include "how to treat the athletes with positive test results." They will be "quarantined in separate housing," where they will "continue to be monitored and treated by team physicians, athletic training and other medical consultants" (OKLAHOMAN, 6/3). In Stillwater, Jason Elmquist notes the OSU football program is "expecting to start voluntary practices beginning on the permitted start date of June 15 issued by the Big 12" (STILLWATER NEWS PRESS, 6/4).
PUT TO THE TEST: In Jackson, Nick Suss notes an Ole Miss spokesperson yesterday confirmed that two members of the athletics department, "one student-athlete and one staff member, tested positive for COVID-19 on campus." A second student-athlete "also tested positive for COVID-19." The athlete was "pre-screened by Ole Miss as a potential risk and received a positive test at home," and the athlete will "quarantine at home for 14 days and have to be cleared by medical personnel before being allowed to return to campus." The first wave of approximately 70 Ole Miss student-athletes "returned to campus on Monday." Every student-athlete and staffer who returned "received a COVID-19 test and an antibody test" (Jackson CLARION-LEDGER, 6/4).
