Covid-19 tests three times a week part of Pitt's regimen on game week

The practices, meetings and video sessions aimed at preparing Pitt for its opener Saturday against Austin Peay are underway. But that is only part of what players, coaches and staff need to do.

Everyone will be tested for covid-19 three times a week during the season. It started Sunday. There will be another Wednesday and a polymerise chain reaction (PCR) test Friday, coach Pat Narduzzi said.

“Friday’s a whole new test,” he said, describing it as “a double whammy” with a swab going up each nostril. “Not just saying what’s in the right or the left.

“To me, I feel comfortable with that because I think you’re going to have less false positives or false negatives that way.

“If it’s a positive, positive, they, obviously (can’t play). If it’s a positive, negative, they go with the negative, saying it’s a false positive.

“You just hope it’s accurate. That’s the thing that scares me. You’d hate for a guy to lose a game or lose 14 days (in quarantine), for that matter, because of a false positive.”

Narduzzi said previous test results have been returned in a timely manner, and the results have been good.

“We expect to have everybody (available for practice this week) at this point as I stand here (Monday),” he said. “I pray they can get (the results) going quickly so our kids can get mentally locked in to knowing they’re ready to go.”

Narduzzi praised his players for their diligence in staying as isolated as possible during training camp.

“We’re playing a season because of them,” he said. “But you know what? There’s a long time to go to game time. I’m glad there’s no bonfire on Thursday. So many things that could have happened if there was a bonfire. We’ll miss it, seeing the Panther Pitt, the band, everybody there.

“It’s just going to be a different year.”

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