Day unavailable to coach if Buckeyes play this weekend
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is unavailable to coach this weekend due to COVID-19.
A spokesperson for the Buckeyes said Day would not be out of isolation required following a positive test in time to coach Ohio State against Michigan State on Saturday.
Big Ten coaches who test positive for COVID-19 are required to be out for 10 days. That puts Day’s earliest possible return from isolation at Dec. 7 — next Monday.
Several positive tests within the program caused the Buckeyes to cancel last week’s game at Illinois. The status of this week’s game isn’t certain because of a positivity rate protocol the Big Ten instituted prior to the season.
Other individuals who tested positive are not being identified by Ohio State. Athletic director Gene Smith said Day is “doing well physically” but the statement issued last week did not disclose whether Day experienced symptoms common with the novel coronavirus.
If Ohio State (4-0) remains at or above 7.5 percent within the program, the team will not be eligible to play at Michigan State, and would then not have enough games played to qualify for the Big Ten championship.
Should the Buckeyes clear protocol this week, Day said it is possible the team could play a game this weekend even with only one or two full practices. That would mean returning to the field Thursday.
Defensive line coach Larry Johnson was set to fill in for Day at Illinois and would be asked to do the same against the Spartans.
The Buckeyes are scheduled to close the Big Ten season on Dec. 12 against Michigan. The Wolverines put their program on pause Monday while awaiting confirmation of presumptive positive COVID-19 tests.
–Field Level Media
