Louisiana Football Amid COVID-19

As professional sports teams continue to make adjustments that working through a global pandemic bring, higher and secondary education entities also work to regain a sense of normalcy in local sports across the country including in Louisiana. On Tuesday, September 14, 2020, Louisiana State University head football coach Ed Orgeron held a press conference sharing that three or four of his players are currently sidelined with the COVID-19. He also said that most of the team already had the virus. "I think most of uh ... not all of our players but most of our players have caught it, so I think that hopefully they don't catch it again and hopefully they're not out for games," Orgeron said. He went on to say that he did not know the exact percentage of the team that has previously fought the virus but that he hoped once someone has it, they do not get it again. This press conference announcement comes two weeks before the national champions are scheduled to have their first game of the season on Saturday, September 26. The Louisiana High School Athletics Association (LHSAA) has moved up its football kickoff date establishing that the season will begin Thursday, October 1. The change was based on a report by Dr. Greg Stewart of Tulane, who serves as the LHSAA Sports Medicine Committee chairman. The organization initially determined that high school sports would not be played until the state entered Phase 4 of re-opening. Louisiana is currently in Phase 3 re-opening, which means sporting event crowds are only permitted at 50% occupancy. The New Orleans Saints began their season with a home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 13. Fans were not allowed to attend the season opener, but state officials have approved fans to attend games beginning week three on September 27. The Superdome will only be open to 25% capacity.

picture cutline: New Orleans Saints' Alvin Kamara is pictured running the ball in the first game of the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. photo: Saints media

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