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A32 sports
Diahuebs 24 september 2020
Mizzou's Drinkwitz :

Transparency trumps competitive edge

(AP) — Eli Drinkwitz could have surprising given the chaotic nature We haven’t really discussed it. I’m
kept private the COVID-19 testing “We'll be at 69 scholarship players of the entire season. But while sev- sure when we get into game week and
numbers within the Missouri foot- available for the Alabama contest,” eral coaches, such as Drinkwitz and we figure out exactly who can and
ball program. The new coach of the Drinkwitz said. second-year Kansas State coach Chris who can’t we’ll kind of let you know.”
Tigers could have pleaded ignorance The Tigers could have used every ad- Klieman have vowed to be as open as
when it came to the number of posi- vantage they can get. They only had a possible, many others have chosen to Many programs lie somewhere in
tive results, or the amount of contact few spring practices to learn Drink- keep the information private. the middle; they may not volunteer
tracing that has been done. He could witz's system before the pandemic Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt, who their COVID-19 testing informa-
have leaned on HIPPA — the federal put workouts on pause, and when the is trying to build on an eight-win sea- tion but they also are not trying to
Health Insurance Portability and Ac- SEC chose to go with a conference- son last year, is no longer discussing hide anything. One example is Kan-
countability Act designed in part to only slate of games, it meant a debut test numbers now that his team is sas, which confirmed reports of three
protect patient privacy — and de- against the mighty Crimson Tide in game week. The Volunteers open positive tests ahead of its opening loss
clined to address questions from re- rather than a lower-tier, non-league their SEC-only schedule at South to Coastal Carolina, then distributed
porters. foe. The reason he decided to reveal Carolina on Saturday night. a list before kickoff of nearly 40 play-
the information turned out to be ers that did not dress for undisclosed
He could have maintained the com- quite simple: transparancy. Alabama counterpart Nick Saban is reasons.
petitive advantage that comes with “This is a public health issue, not a aligned more closely to Drinkwitz Meanwhile, Drinkwitz wants to
refusing to disclose such vital infor- competitive issue,” Drinkwitz ex- and Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason eliminate any rumors and guesswork
mation. Instead, Drinkwitz laid ev- plained. “This is not an injury we're when it comes to disclosing test re- when it comes to his Tigers.
erything on the table. trying to keep. People should know sults. The Crimson Tide were among
Seven players have so far been ruled what's happening within our football the first programs to begin testing “I believe in the value of football and
out for Saturday's opener against program as it relates to the pandemic. three times a week — long before the what we're doing and to represent
No. 2 Alabama because of the vi- That to me is more important than, SEC mandated it — and have since the state of Missouri on Saturday,
rus. There were no positives from you know, whatever competitive ad- used their considerable resources to and let people not focus on the pan-
the most recent round of testing last vantage it might be to win or lose a begin daily testing. demic and compete,” he said. “And I
weekend, though there were still two football game.” “We don’t really have anybody that think for me, what went into it was
more tests to go. There also was an would be out for sure for the game,” just honesty and the approach that
issue with tests that came back incon- No standard has been set for how Saban said. “We may have some in- the pandemic overrides competitive
clusive, which kept a few extra play- college football programs disclose jured players who may not recover advantage.”
ers out for a few practices. positive tests, which shouldn't be enough to be able to play in the game.

Chargers' team doctor punctured Taylor's lung

(AP) — Los Angeles Char- culties breathing after Lynn
gers quarterback Tyrod Tay- said he had a reaction to an
lor missed last Sunday's game injection. Taylor was released
because a team doctor acci- Sunday night and was at the
dentally punctured his lung, Chargers' complex on Mon-
according to a person familiar day.
with the case.
The NFL Players Association
The person spoke to The As- said on Wednesday that they
sociated Press on condition have been in contact with
of anonymity Wednesday be- Taylor and his agent and have
cause of medical restriction started an investigation into
issues. Coach Anthony Lynn the matter. ESPN first report-
said Taylor is still not 100% ed the punctured lung. Taylor
and that rookie Justin Her- was briefly on the Chargers'
bert will get his second NFL injury report Friday due to a
start on Sunday against the rib injury he suffered in the
Carolina Panthers. Sept. 13 opener against the
Lynn said he wasn't angry Cincinnati Bengals. He was
about what occurred because taken off it, though, after
the mistake wasn't intention- fully participating in practice
al. and taking all of the snaps
“There were complications with the first team.
with the shot but I know the Lynn did not have an update
man (who gave it). People on Taylor's status on Mon-
make mistakes. It is some- day. He said that if Taylor was
thing we will talk about in- 100%, he would be the starter
ternally,” Lynn said. on Sunday against Carolina.
However, with a punctured
Herbert was the Chargers' lung, the 10-year veteran is
surprise starter in last Sun- expected to be out indefi-
day's 23-20 overtime loss to nitely.
the Kansas City Chiefs. Lynn
said he didn't find out until Herbert, the sixth overall
less than five minutes before pick in April's draft, became
kickoff that Taylor would be the ninth quarterback since
unable to play. Herbert said the merger to throw for over
he found out he was playing 300 yards in his debut, but
right as the Chargers were he threw an interception late
lining up to receive the open- in the third quarter that the
ing kickoff. Taylor was taken Chiefs converted into a tying
to the hospital due to diffi- touchdown.