Miami football has kept Covid cases to minimum compared to other programs
The Miami football program has only three cases of Covid-19 reported that all happened in July. That number is drastically lower compared to many other college football programs.
Head coach Manny Diaz has frequently credited the leadership the Miami football program is able to follow from University of Miami president Julio Frenk. Frenk is the former Mexico minister of health and worked for the World Health Organization. Only three Miami players have reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.
Compared to many other college football programs, Miami has kept those numbers extremely low. In an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education in July, Duke professor Nathan Kalman-Lamb with colleagues Johanna Mellis, and Derek Silva delve deep into the hows and whys of the long-lasting effects of the coronavirus.
Several of the impacts that are mentioned in the article are the numbers from several FBS programs and how many players on their teams were infected with Covid-19. Miami’s ACC rival Clemson had 37 players test positive, Texas had 13, Kansas State14, national champion LSU 30 and Florida 11.
Other programs mentioned by Kalman-Lamb, Silva and Mellis are Texas Tech with 23 confirmed Covid-19 cases, Oklahoma State with 14, Kansas with 12, Alabama with eight, another ACC rival North Carolina, who initially refused to disclose how many players test positive, then released information 37 of their players had the virus.
Manny Diaz said UM football players are not being asked to sign waivers. So UM's Julio Frenk would need to feel confident that Miami won't be at risk legally if player catches COVID during football activities and subsequently files lawsuit.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) August 8, 2020
Illinois had 23 players test positive. Of the above-listed schools, only the Fighting Illini are not playing this season after the Big 10 canceled football this fall on Tuesday. The remaining schools listed above are ACC, Big XII, or SEC schools all of whom are forging ahead with their 2020 seasons.
The University of Houston where Miami quarterback D’Eriq King and offensive tackle Jarrid Williams transferred from during the offseason had to suspend voluntary workouts after 13 of their players tested positive in early June. King and Williams appear to be in a safer environment than they were in Houston.
Manny Diaz addresses the elephant in Miami locker room. dark. Next
With Frenk leading the way and James and Diaz following the proper protocols, the Miami football program appears to be in a better place than many of their FBS peers. If the Hurricanes continue to follow what is expected of them they should be healthy and ready to kickoff the season September 10 against UAB.