Pitt pauses scheduled spring drills because of covid protocols
Pitt football hit a roadblock in its spring drills Tuesday when all in-person activities were paused because of covid-related protocols. Players and coaches will continue to meet virtually, the university announced.
The university said last week it has seen an 83% spike in new covid cases. Campuses in Oakland, Greensburg, Bradford and Titusville are in a “guarded risk posture.”
Players, coaches and staff have been tested once a week on Wednesdays, coach Pat Narduzzi said last week. The university did not reveal how many people have tested positive for covid-19 or have been identified in contact tracing. Everyone is required to answer health-related questions on a questionnaire before entering the building.
Pitt opened spring practice March 14 and held four of its 15 scheduled workouts, most recently Saturday at its South Side complex. The Blue-Gold spring game is scheduled for April 17 at Heinz Field. There is no word on the status of that game or when Pitt might resume workouts.
Spring drills were canceled last year at the outset of the pandemic after only three practice sessions. The Panthers also had a one-day pause in August after summer camp opened and postponed its game at Georgia Tech until Dec. 10 because of covid-related protocols at both schools.
So far this spring, football practice at Ohio State, Duke and Tennessee has been disrupted by covid-related concerns.
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Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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