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Today is Thursday, meaning the weekend is creeping closer and closer with the promise of college football riding on its crest. However, that promise will be fulfilled in part first tonight, when the Miami Hurricanes kick off their season against the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers in Miami, Fla., with 19 games on the docket to follow on Saturday.
The top story today carries with it a bit of schadenfreude, as Georgia football mascot Uga will not be on the field at games for the first time in a decade due to COVID-19 protocols. There is no plan to have the dog in Athens elsewhere in the stadium as of now.
In other news, Penn State athletics reported its largest COVID-19 spike and has halted some programs in response. University officials announced that 48 student-athletes had tested positive for the coronavirus from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, with 920 total tests taken during that time.
Meanwhile, in Norman, Okla., head football coach Lincoln Riley says that Oklahoma will not release COVID-19 testing data for competitive reasons. Players across the Big 12 — and the nonconference opponents they play — will test on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday of game weeks.
Finally, ESPN announced plans Tuesday to have virtual fans part of “College GameDay.” If you want to be a virtual fan, follow this link. There will be 350 people chosen as virtual fans each week, according to ESPN.
Around the Swamp
- Former Gators coach Billy Donovan parts ways with Oklahoma City Thunder: Donovan’s contract expired after the Thunder were eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Houston Rockets in Game 7, and both parties mutually agreed not to pursue an extension, making Donovan a coaching free agent.
- FBS coaches sound off on which programs are best equipped to handle a season with COVID-19: ESPN talked to FBS coaches and assistants anonymously to gauge which programs they think are best equipped to handle a season with the cloud of COVID-19 hanging over.
- ESPN projects 8.5 wins for Florida Gators football this fall using SP+ analytics: Florida is projected to win 8.5 of its 10 games this year. Other teams projected at 8.5 wins are Cincinnati and divisional rival Georgia, who the Gators haven’t beaten since 2016.
- Florida Gators athletics release updated COVID-19 testing information: On Wednesday, the University of Florida Athletic Association released updated data regarding testing results for COVID-19. The results are up-to-date as of Monday, Sept. 7.
- Every former Florida Gators football player on active NFL rosters after cut day: An unusual NFL offseason is winding to a close as all 32 teams had to narrow their final rosters to 53 players this weekend.
It’s great to be a Florida Gator!
Gators student-athletes are registering to vote in the general election. 🐊☑️
Are you?
Join the campaign: https://t.co/PhfhAJdJk0 #GatorsVote #GoGators @GatorsExp pic.twitter.com/66xx6St5yw— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) September 9, 2020
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