A total of 14 Oklahoma soccer players tested positive for the coronavirus, along with two of the 72 staff members who were screened, the school announced Wednesday when volunteer training began.
As a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the athletics department also announced that it has implemented budget cuts of approximately $ 13.7 million, including a 10% pay cut for any employee earning $ 1 million or more per year. The budget changes represent COVID-19 expenses, including test protocols and increased security measures.
According to the university, 111 soccer players were evaluated on Monday and only seven were positive, but there were seven other positive cases that existed previously. Of those 14 positive tests, two players have already recovered.
Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley was not available for comment, but athletic director Joe Castiglione said in the statement that as the pandemic evolves, there may be additional cost-cutting measures. Riley earned $ 6 million in 2019.
“We all understand that a number of circumstances will develop in the coming weeks,” Castiglione said. “Our staff continues to closely monitor our spending and revenue projections and we will take other steps as needed.”
The athletics department will continue to honor all financial aid and services provided to student athletes, including accommodations, for extended eligibility.
In the Big 12, where volunteer workouts were allowed to start on June 15, Oklahoma chose to wait until July 1. Castiglione told ESPN last month that the decision was “significantly influenced” by information from a variety of medical experts, including the availability of evidence. .
“We have just reached the point where we felt that the risk of bringing in student athletes in early June far outweighed any potential gain we would have from having them come to our facilities for voluntary training,” he said. “We are not yet in a place where we can eliminate the risk of contracting the virus. We are talking about risk mitigation, not risk elimination.”
Oklahoma is not the only college football playoff contender to have reported more than a dozen positive tests for coronavirus as athletes have returned to campus for voluntary training. Since he began testing on June 1, Clemson has conducted 430 tests, with a total of 47 positive results. LSU, which began volunteer training on June 9, placed 30 or more players in quarantine, according to a report in Sports Illustrated.
Later this month, programs are slated to move from voluntary training to the mandatory “summer access” period.
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