As NC State classes go virtual, what’s next for Wolfpack football athletes?
N.C. State University announced on Thursday that beginning Monday it will move to online-only classes for the remainder of the fall semester.
University chancellor Randy Woodson announced the decision in a school-wide email. The chancellor said the recent spike in coronavirus cases within the N.C. State community led to the move to remote classes.
What does that mean for athletes? The athletic department sent out a release Thursday afternoon saying athletes, including football players, will take classes online and may remain in their on- or off-campus housing.
“The health and safety of our student-athletes is our unconditional priority,” the university said in a statement. “We will continue to hold practices and workouts for our teams under the previously established protocols by our University, Athletics Department and local health officials.”
The release also added that the school still expects to play in the fall.
NC State’s coronavirus cases, clusters
On Thursday morning, N.C. State reported 41 new positive coronavirus cases, bringing the university’s total to 217 since March. The school’s online dashboard says 39 students are in quarantine or isolation on campus, occupying nearly a quarter of the 166 units the university has available.
The school has reported at least three clusters, including two at sorority houses.
Last week Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said the players he spoke with were satisfied with their classroom set up on the first day of classes.
“There were some questions about how those classes would be, I think they were nervous,” Doeren said. “The guys that I talked to that had class yesterday were very happy with the set up they had in their classrooms, they are OK with it. Haven’t heard from one player yet that didn’t feel that way, so that was positive.”
Doeren told any players who had concerns with the classroom set up to speak with an academic advisor and asked to switch to an online class.
Testing Wolfpack athletes
Nickelback Tyler Baker-Williams told the media on Wednesday when he isn’t in class, he spends most of the time in his apartment or the Murphy Center (football facility) and feels safe.
“I stay out the way,” Baker-Williams said. “I feel safe with the precautions we are taking at the facility and just staying isolated at home.”
Last week N.C. State athletics administered a third round of COVID-19 testing, with one additional positive result.
According to Fred Demarest, senior athletic director for communications, N.C. State now administered 1,360 tests to athletes, coaches and staff since June, with eight total positive results. That number represents an additional 765 tests since their most recent update with just one positive result.
This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 3:55 PM with the headline "As NC State classes go virtual, what’s next for Wolfpack football athletes?."
