Jim Harbaugh statement on Michigan football pausing team activities due to COVID concerns

Michigan football paused team activities out of an abundance of caution after getting presumptive positive COVID tests.

There are just a few weeks remaining in the college football season but many are struggling to get to the finish line. Count Michigan football among those faced with COVID issues, which are spreading rapidly throughout the nation and college football is not immune.

The Wolverines paused all team activities on Monday and will be holding everything virtually, Jim Harbaugh said after receiving some tests that are presumed to be positive.

“Today, out of an abundance of caution, Michigan football is gonna hold everything virtually,” Harbaugh said. “We had an increased number of presumptive positives that are awaiting confirmation.”

Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football are on pause

Harbaugh says the team is taking things day by day as they deal with the virus and the safety protocols put in place.

“Like everything, it just goes along with the culture that’s been said here since June; this is day to day,” Harbaugh said. “When the results come back, or we’ll monitor those results. And as always, continue to be very proactive.”

With Wisconsin, Minnesota, Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State and Michigan State having games affected last weekend and this weekend potentially, there is growing pessimism that the season won’t even get to the finish line, but Harbaugh is mostly focused on the health and safety of his team.

“We’re gonna continue to do what we’ve done,” Harbaugh said when asked if he worries about the Big Ten season being shut down altogether. “I mean, the health and safety is first and foremost and continue to lean on the medical professionals and abundance of caution. Always. That’s been a continuation of the approach. As I said, it’s day to day, it has been since, since June. Today’s decision was to do things virtually, to have the meetings that were scheduled in-person, to do them, to do that virtually. You see some other programs, NFL, I think across the league. You know, not having people in the facilities today and tomorrow. So I think it’s the right thing to do and the right thing to do, to be proactive.”

Michigan is scheduled to host Maryland this Saturday and for the time being, the game remains on track to be played, but that could obviously change at any moment.

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