Maryland Game Canceled
Minutes after the story broke on Twitter, Michigan confirmed the game on Saturday is off due to a COVID outbreak in the Michigan program. Press Release:
December 2, 2020
Football Game against Maryland Canceled as Michigan Pauses Practice until Monday
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan Athletic Department announced today (Wednesday, Dec. 2) that it will be pausing football practices and that Saturday’s game against Maryland has been canceled and will not be rescheduled. This decision to pause in-person football activities was made in consultation with medical professionals and the local health department.“The decision by our medical professionals to stop practices and cancel this Saturday’s game against Maryland was made with the health, safety and welfare of the student-athletes, coaches and staff as our utmost priority,” said Warde Manuel, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics.
“We have seen an increase in the number of student-athletes unavailable to compete due to positive tests and associated contact tracing due to our most recent antigen and PCR testing results.”Daily testing will continue and medical professionals will make a determination when to resume practice. The earliest practice can resume will be Monday, Dec. 7.
These outbreaks typically cancel at least two games so The Game now seems unlikely to happen as well. I'm off to burn my FFFF charting.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:00 PM ^
comments now on.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:46 PM ^
What are the B1G thresholds for cancellations?
FSU took heat for a number of reasons, one of which was NOT meeting the ACC thresholds for cancelling.
Michigan went from 1 (or a few) case(s) (depends on who you believe) to cancelled in a day - with ZERO info provided about the case count.
Helps explain why people are sh1tting on UM now - lack of transparency makes it seem like a b1tch move.
December 2nd, 2020 at 6:05 PM ^
Lack of transparency is college football's middle name. No program has been transparent except Minnesota I think.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:03 PM ^
Hopefully the coaching search is well under way.
December 2nd, 2020 at 6:06 PM ^
I think it makes it harder to fire Harbaugh. We'll see. But it helps him that he's not gonna get trounced by osu.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:03 PM ^
Meh. Saves me the trouble of watching them.
On a serious note, I hope everyone infected recovers quickly and fully and outbreak is limited as much as it can be at this point. Health before sports.
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:43 PM ^
Just as well to end the season now. It’s been a shit show and we really don’t need to take a beating from OSU. Find a new coach and hopefully next fall things are normal and we will have something promising to look forward to
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:04 PM ^
Hope the infected players/staff members are okay and get through this unscathed.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:23 PM ^
Agreed. I am curious what changed from yesterday. UMBig11 posted that practice was on, and likely the Maryland game as well. It sounds like practice did not happen after all.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:27 PM ^
What likely happened was big was reading the tea leaves & adding his own twist in an attempt to maintain his “insider status” with the few who still believe he has any.
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:02 PM ^
I believe yesterday there was a last minute switch after some players showed up. Practice was scheduled to resume then got changed at last minute.
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:03 PM ^
Any evidence or reporting on this? It's amazing how little access UM reporters have or willing to give up.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:04 PM ^
This really sucks. I know most of you want this season to be over, but I want to see our team compete in every game possible. They're young and inexperienced and deserve as many chances to play and get better as they can get. I hate that this covid pandemic has hurt our program so badly.
Prayers for all of our players and staff that they will recover and return to full health.
Go Blue
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:12 PM ^
I mean I understand what you're saying and always feel like I want to see my team compete and improve.
But where is the development and improvement? Alll it is is embarrassment and sadness and depression. Hopefully this is the end of the Harbaugh era, he ain't getting it done and it breaks my heart Fredo!
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:13 PM ^
Totally agree. There's only a few days of Michigan football a year and to lose one definitely sucks, (even if the team does too). The season may be doomed but I'm still interested to see how players are coming along at least, and them getting real-world full-contact full-go reps
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:21 PM ^
I really want to agree, but it seems that many players are actively losing confidence and building bad habits during these losses. Morale seems even lower than it was in 2014 and 2010. Some time off, a chance to clear their heads, might serve the players well. A fresh start with a new coaching staff would help them more than anything...
Still, a COVID cancelation undoubtedly brings a bunch of anxiety with it, and therefore is not exactly time off. Alas.
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:23 PM ^
Maybe check your priorities.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:23 PM ^
Agreed. As much as I find our performances embarassing, I want the kids to have an opportunity to compete. If we're gonna get humbled, we might as well get properly effing humbled. We should face the music.
Oh well.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:29 PM ^
Bad football is better than no football.
I think this point has been proven in Ann Arbor for some time, now.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:33 PM ^
This is a different kind of bad. They don't even look like they want to be there.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:34 PM ^
I feel the same way. We wait all year for this and no matter how bad it might seem, I still love watching the maize and blue, especially at home in a game they absolutely can win! I am bummed not to be able to see these kids play the sport they love this weekend.
On the other hand, it's my wife's birthday so this saves me from having to ignore her for 3.5 hours and wrath that would come with it.
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:02 PM ^
The ying and yang of fandom means that we pine for what we cannot have (season cancelled) and bemoan what we do have (a disappointing season). If you wanted a season, like I did, I feel that you can't "opt out" of your fandom with any integrity.
And honestly, all the posts about players giving up, etc. are insulting to 90+% of the people on the team. They may not be playing well, but they won't get better by not playing. Isn't that why we all want a bowl game every year? For those 15 extra days of practice?
So while it may have been painful to watch, I would have done so.
Hope no one is seriously ill.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:04 PM ^
You guys. Herbstreit has a theory.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:15 PM ^
Fuck Herbstreit. Why isn't he asking why OSU didn't play the Illini? By the accounts I've seen, OSU could have played (within B1G covid protocols) but opted to cancel.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:30 PM ^
There seem to be fewer people in the "F*** Herbstriet" camp here than there are saying the exact same thing he said.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:38 PM ^
People saying that Michigan shouldn't play next weekend are being facetious though. There is zero chance Michigan is doing this to avoid playing.
It's insane that coaches like Dabo and the people talking to Herbstreit think teams that are underdogs and have to cancel are being shady but teams like OSU that are favorites and have to cancel have legit outbreaks. C'mon.
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:33 PM ^
I agree with this. Harbaugh is the kind of guy that would rather ram his head into the wall than not. He is a glutton for punishment and would fully support playing out the season, bad football and all, if the powers that be allowed it.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:36 PM ^
Exactly. Herbstreit’s comments were calculated & tactical. He wanted to start the narrative that we were/would duck osu.
1. Attempt to put “pressure” on coaches/administration to avoid any potential bad optics.
2. To allow him & his fellow mouthpieces to have something else to pile on if/when it happens.
3. Cry wolf if it ends up effecting Ohio’s postseason.
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:56 PM ^
Herbstreit is a sleezy tool who carefully grooms a public persona of college football poster boy.
He has pulled this before by publicly sabotaging any chance for Les Miles to be hired in 2007. As many recall, he "broke" the story that Miles to UM was practically a done deal, shortly before LSU was to play their title game - forcing Miles' to further commit to LSU or risk losing his team before the game (other dynamics were in play as well). A few days later Herbstreit issued a bland mea culpa and just carried on - no one seriously questioned him on how he came by this "insider info".
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:49 PM ^
Because it wouldn't make sense for him to insinuate OSU was scared of losing to them.
December 2nd, 2020 at 7:29 PM ^
There are scenarios (see Denver Broncos) where if an important position group was hit hard enough that they might of indeed been scared of losing. Why else not play if you're hell bent on trying to make the playoffs at all costs?
December 3rd, 2020 at 7:40 AM ^
I don’t speak for OSU, but I have to believe that the AD and coaches wanted to nip this COVID thing in the bud and cancel the Illinois game rather than risk The Greatest Rivalry in all of sports. Larry Johnson was set to be interim HC for the Illinois game when Day tested positive, before they decided to cancel. I’m still hoping The Game will be played.
Also, I’m praying/hoping all the Michigan players and coaches get or remain well from this horrid disease.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:05 PM ^
ITS BEAT OHIO WEEK (+3 days)!
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:05 PM ^
Still have the crossover game to lose.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:20 PM ^
And maybe even a bowl game. Eligibility requirements were removed this year...
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:58 PM ^
I think we'll decline any bowl invite we get - but more likely not to get any at all.
Liberty might finish with only one loss (and a 2-1 record against the ACC) and still not get a bid since the bowls will go for conference tie-ins first.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:05 PM ^
remember when that walk-on publicly called Schlissel "incompetent" for not wanting to have a season? I wonder if he's looking around and feeling silly. He probably should.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:40 PM ^
Why would he feel silly? Guarantee no one involved with the program, not even those who tested positive, regrets playing.
December 2nd, 2020 at 4:06 PM ^
Hutchinson's broken leg says hello.
December 2nd, 2020 at 10:21 PM ^
Every player knows fully well they may be injured. Hutchinson was one of the most vocal proponents of playing
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:06 PM ^
I never ever thought I'd say this but I'm really glad a Michigan football game is canceled.
And hopefully the osu game too.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:06 PM ^
Thanks go out to the UM players who volunteered to get Covid. In doing so, they not only bestowed heavenly mercy upon this team but knocked OSU out of the BIG championship game. OSU with only 5 games is ineligible. IU sends their gratitude.
December 2nd, 2020 at 5:38 PM ^
Zero chance the B1G doesn’t already have a plan for OSU to play someone else, I.e. Wisconsin
December 2nd, 2020 at 6:57 PM ^
Good chance OSU/MSU is cx'd this weekend as a result of OSU having Covid. So OSU may be SOL.
December 2nd, 2020 at 8:49 PM ^
From what I can tell that game is still on. Again, I’d be shocked if B1G doesn’t bend over backwards for OSU to have a chance at the playoff and with it the conference be represented.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:07 PM ^
It is very sad to see this game cancelled. I really hope the staff and players who are positive will be OK. I am very relieved there will be no game given how bad the team played against PSU. It is a no win situation for all.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:08 PM ^
Good News...cant lose if we dont play....CNX OSU game too
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:11 PM ^
Does this mean Warde can make a coaching decision sooner rather than later?
December 2nd, 2020 at 3:05 PM ^
I'm very irritated by Warde. I'd rather see Harbaugh stay and nuke the coordinators before burning everything down. But I'm just a guy with no real insight into the program. If it's time to move on, so be it. He's the guy with the knowledge.
He's the AD. This is his job to lead. Dithering and opacity look like its starting to hurt recruiting beyond what our bad record is. With the transfer portal it could hurt us worse.
The man needs to make a decision.
I worry that his contract is up in March and he's stalling.
December 2nd, 2020 at 2:11 PM ^
mercy. likely NW v IU for big ten football championship.....not sure if its really cool or really sad or both
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