By Marty Gordon
N.C. State’s opening game at Virginia Tech, originally scheduled for Sept. 12, has officially been moved to Sept. 26.
The decision comes in the wake of 27 new positive COVID-19 cases within the NC State athletic department.
“We appreciate the ACC and Virginia Tech working together in partnership to move this game to a mutual open weekend,” said NC State Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan. ”There’s no blueprint for what we’re all trying to navigate, and we are grateful for everyone’s collaboration to make this work.”
Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren said, “The ACC created a league schedule with flexibility to adjust games if needed. There are going to be times teams must adjust based on what is best for the health and safety of the players and staffs involved. This move provides our team and staff the time needed to prepare and reacclimate after pausing our practices.”
“Based on the information available to us, we are making the necessary and swift decision to pause athletic-related activities until we have additional information,” said NC State Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan. “We will continue to work with all appropriate parties to evaluate the most responsible path moving forward and will provide further details when available.”
The university said at least 27 people, not all of them athletes, tested positive for COVID-19.
Virginia Tech head football coach Justin Fuente said it is what it is.
“It’s like you walk off the practice field and you’re just waiting for the new news that’s happened,” the head Hokie said. “It’s not a daily thing. It’s almost an hourly update, and I think that’s going to be the normal. There’s so many checks and balances that everybody’s got to try and do – for the right reasons.
“News and information can change rather quickly,” Fuente said. “Who knows? Opponents can change and schedules can change. You’re going to have to go with the flow a little bit. You’re going to have to control what you can control and worry about the things that you’re in control of and do your best to handle the unknown one step at a time. I’m a big planner, but we’re literally trying to make it through one day at a time.”
