Pitt’s game Jan. 2 against Notre Dame was scheduled to come 48 hours into a new year that will try to create some distance from its trying, taxing and tumultuous predecessor.
But even as the calendar turns to a new page, some of the same problems persist.
The Panthers’ home game Saturday against the Fighting Irish has been postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test within the Pitt program, as well as additional contact tracing related to a positive test outside the program, the university announced Thursday.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have determined it is in the program’s best interests to postpone Saturday’s game,” Pitt head coach Jeff Capel said in a statement. “We are testing daily within the program and will thoroughly conduct contact tracing to identify anyone who is determined to be a close contact. The health and safety of everyone in the program remains our focus as we look to navigate this pandemic.”
It marks the second postponed game this week for the Panthers, whose Dec. 29 matchup at Duke was also pushed back following a positive COVID-19 test within the Pitt program.
It’s the latest development for a program that has been more noticeably impacted by the coronavirus pandemic in recent weeks. On Dec. 19, the school announced Capel had tested positive for COVID-19, leading to a strenuous experience with the virus that he said nearly led to his hospitalization. Capel said in a video call with reporters Monday, shortly before the game against the Blue Devils was postponed, that he doesn’t believe “we should be playing right now” as the pandemic persists.
With the Notre Dame game delayed, Pitt isn’t scheduled to play again until Jan. 9, when it is set to host Florida State. Should that contest be played, Pitt will have gone 17 days without playing a game, going back to a Dec. 22 loss against Louisville.
The Panthers will continue to comply with the protocols outlined by the ACC’s medical advisory group. Players and those in close contact with the team in high-risk sports such as basketball are tested three times a week. Those involved in indoor high-risk sports must be tested on nonconsecutive days, have to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen test within 48 hours of the conclusion of a game and are administered a PCR test within three calendar days prior to a game. While in-season, any member of the team must quarantine for 24 hours after returning to campus following a break of three days or more.
Craig Meyer: cmeyer@post-gazette.com and Twitter @CraigMeyerPG
First Published: December 31, 2020, 10:30 p.m.
